Cambodia Geography
LocationSoutheastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos
Geographic coordinates
13 00 N, 105 00 E
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
Coastline
443 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 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
oil and gas, timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential
Land use
arable land: 20.96%
permanent crops: 0.61%
other: 78.43% (2001)
Irrigated land
2,700 sq km (1998 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, most of the population does not have access to potable water; declining fish stocks because of illegal fishing and overfishing
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note
a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap
