Short facts about the geography of Cambodia
| Location: |
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf
of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and
Laos |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
13 00 N, 105 00
E |
| Map
references: |
Southeast
Asia |
| Area: |
total: 181,040 sq km
land: 176,520 sq km
water:
4,520 sq km |
| Area -
comparative: |
slightly smaller than
Oklahoma |
| Land
boundaries: |
total: 2,572 km
border countries: Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km,
Vietnam 1,228 km |
| Maritime
claims: |
contiguous zone:
24 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM
exclusive
economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12
NM |
| Climate: |
tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to
November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature
variation |
| Terrain: |
mostly low, flat plains; mountains in
southwest and north |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Phnum Aoral
1,810 m |
| Natural
resources: |
timber, gemstones, some iron ore,
manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential |
| Land
use: |
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures:
11%
forests and woodland: 66%
other: 10% (1993
est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
920 sq km (1993
est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
monsoonal rains (June to November);
flooding; occasional droughts |
| Environment
- current issues: |
illegal logging activities throughout
the country and strip mining for gems in the western region along the border
with Thailand have resulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in
particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); soil
erosion; in rural areas, a majority of the population does not have access to
potable water; toxic waste delivery from Taiwan sparked unrest in Kampong Saom
(Sihanoukville) in December 1998 |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine
Life Conservation, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping |
| Geography -
note: |
a land of paddies and forests dominated
by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap | Source: World Factbook |
