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Cambodia

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Cambodia is a country in Mainland Southeast Asia.

Cambodia Geographic map en
Cambodia Geographic map en

It sits near Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. To the southwest, it meets the Gulf of Thailand. Much of the land is a low-lying plain. The Mekong River flows through this area. It meets Tonlé Sap, which is the largest lake in Southeast Asia.

Cambodia's rice fields
Cambodia's rice fields

The weather is tropical. This means the air is often warm and wet. Many people live here, about 17 million in total. Most of these people are ethnically Khmer. They speak the Khmer language. Buddhism is the most common religion.

Angkor Wat Tourists
Angkor Wat Tourists

History tells us that Cambodia has very old roots. People lived in this region a long time ago. Some evidence shows humans used stone tools along the Mekong River.

Ewer from Cambodia, Angkorian era, 12th century, glazed stoneware, HAA
Ewer from Cambodia, Angkorian era, 12th century, glazed stoneware, HAA

Later, rice farmers arrived from the north. Around 802 AD, a leader named Jayavarman II became king. He united different princes to start the Khmer Empire. This empire was very strong for many centuries. It spread religions like Hinduism and Buddhism to other lands. The empire was the largest in its region during the 12th century.

The Khmer Empire is famous for its amazing building projects. The most well-known site is Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat Tourists
Angkor Wat Tourists

Some researchers believe the city of Angkor was once the largest pre-industrial city in the world. It may have held up to 1 million people. The city was spread out over a huge area. Eventually, the empire began to lose power. By 1432, the city of Angkor was abandoned. This happened because of changes in the environment and broken infrastructure.

Cambodia also went through many changes in recent history. In 1863, the country became a French protectorate. This lasted until 1953, when Cambodia gained its independence.

Mao Sihanouk
Mao Sihanouk

However, the following years were very difficult. The country faced a civil war during the 1960s. In 1975, a group called the Khmer Rouge took control. Their rule was a very dark time for the people. They ruled until 1979 when they were removed. Peace finally returned after the 1991 Paris Peace Accords.

TuolSlang3
TuolSlang3

Today, Cambodia is a place of growth and new work. Many people work in agriculture, like farming rice.

Battambang Provinz 01
Battambang Provinz 01

Other people work in building, making clothes, or tourism. Tourism brings many visitors to see the old temples. The country is a constitutional monarchy. This means it has a king and a government. While there are many political parties, one party holds most of the power. The country still faces hard jobs like deforestation.

Prey Lang Forest Aerial
Prey Lang Forest Aerial

People continue to work toward a stable future.

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🖼️ Images & Media (35)
United States Navy Band - Nokoreach.ogg
File:Cambodia on the globe (Cambodia centered).svg
Cambodia on the globe (Cambodia centered).svg
File:Location Cambodia ASEAN.svg
Location Cambodia ASEAN.svg
File:Ewer from Cambodia, Angkorian era, 12th century, glazed stoneware, HAA.JPG
Ewer from Cambodia, Angkorian era, 12th...
File:Vietnam 1760.jpg
Vietnam 1760.jpg
File:Mao Sihanouk.jpg
Mao Sihanouk.jpg
File:TuolSlang3.jpg
TuolSlang3.jpg
File:Buddhist Stupa at Choeung Ek killing fields, Cambodia.JPG
Buddhist Stupa at Choeung Ek killing...
File:Medvedev_in_Cambodia_01.png
Medvedev_in_Cambodia_01.png
File:CNRP protesters raise flags.jpg
CNRP protesters raise flags.jpg
File:Cambodia Geographic map en.svg
Cambodia Geographic map en.svg
File:Cambodia Regions Map.png
Cambodia Regions Map.png

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