Geography of Cambodia
Location
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos
Geographic Coordinates
13 00 N, 105 00 E
Geographical Area
Land
176,520 Sq Km.
Water
4,520 Sq Km.
Land Boundary
2,572 Km.
Border Countries
Laos
541 Km.
Thailand
803 Km.
Vietnam
1,228 Km.
Length of Coastline
443 Km.
Terrain
Mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north
Elevation Extremes
Lowest Point
Gulf of Thailand 0m
Highest Point
Phnum Aoral 1,810m
Natural Resources
Oil and gas, timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential
Land Use
Arable Land
20%
Permanent Crops
1%
Other
79%
Irrigated Land
2,700 Sq Km.
Natural Hazards
Monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts
Environmental 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.
