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カンボジアの豆知識 (10): カンボジアの不思議な湖
Fun Facts About Cambodia (10): Cambodia’s Spectacular Lake

(English report follows after Japanese)

Photo of Tonle Sap. Photo Credit: Best Price Travel.

カンボジアでは、毎年雨季（５月～１１月）になると、不思議な現象が起こります。降雨による水量の増加のため、カンボジアの「トンレサップ湖」に繋がっているトンレサップ川が逆流し、トンレサップ湖の面積（約2700㎢）が通常の約6～7倍の大きさになるのです。

 

そもそも、どうして川が逆流するでしょうか。乾季（１２月～４月）には、水はトンレサップ湖からトンレサップ川へ、そしてメコン川に流れ込んでいます。しかし、雨季に入ると、モンスーンの影響による大量の雨がメコン川に流れ込み、限界を超えた水が全てトンレサップ川に逆流するのです。結果、トンレサップ湖にも大量の水が流れ込み、湖の周辺の土地や森まで、水に浸かっている状態になります。モンスーンが去る１１月頃には、トンレサップ川はいつも通りの方向に流れ、トンレサップ湖も２月までには徐々に通常の面積に戻ります。

 

ここでもうひとつ、トンレサップ湖にまつわる情報を。雨季限定ですが、船に乗ってトンレサップ湖を遊覧することが出来ます！ツアーでは、湖上に浮かぶ集落（学校や病院や教会があるようです！）を見学したり、湖の様々な野生動物（鳥、蛇、ワニなど）を観察することができます。また、陸路・空路を使わずに、水路（ボートクルーズでトンレサップ湖を通る）で首都プノンペンからシェムリアップまで移動することも可能です。時間に余裕があれば、船でゆっくり、トンレサップ湖の美しい自然を楽しみながらの旅行もいいかもしれませんね。

 

Each year when it comes to the rainy season (from May to November) in Cambodia, a spectacular phenomenon will occur. With an increase in rainfall, the Tonle Sap River, which is connected to Tonle Sap Lake, will flow in a reverse direction, and the Tonle Sap Lake will expand to more than 6~7 times of its normal surface area (approx. 2700 km²).

 

Now you may ask, why does the river reverse its direction in the first place? During the dry season (from December to April) in Cambodia, under normal circumstances, water will flow down from Tonle Sap Lake, through the Tonle Sap River, and into the connecting Mekong River. However, when it enters the wet season, due to heavy amount of rainfall brought about by the monsoon rain, the Mekong River reaches its capacity limit, and excess water are being pushed back into Tonle Sap River, causing a reverse in the river’s flow direction. This eventually results in large amount of water to flow into Tonle Sap Lake as well, and flooding the surrounding land and forest. Once after the monsoon has subsided in around November, the Tonle Sap River reverses to its normal flow direction again, and so is Tonle Sap Lake, which will gradually return to its usual surface area until February.

 

Another fact about Tonle Sap that is good to know. Limited to only during the wet season, one is able to hitch on a boat ride and sight-see around Tonle Sap. Through a boat tour, it is possible to reach and explore the Floating Villages of Tonle Sap (where you can find school, hospital and church there!). As well as being able to observe the natural wildlife habitat of Tonle Sap, such as birds, snakes and crocodiles. Furthermore, besides going by road or air, one can also choose to go by the waterway method, crossing Tonle Sap to get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap with boat cruises available.

 

If you have some time to spare, it certainly might be a great way of making your trip an even wonderful one by taking a slow ride on the boat and bask in the beautiful nature of Tonle Sap.

 

参考文献・References

  1. Facts And Details, Cambodia Tonle Sap

http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Cambodia/sub5_2f/entry-3506.html

  1. Wikipedia, Tonle Sap

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonl%C3%A9_Sap

  1. タビナカマガジン、シェムリアップから足を延ばしてトンレサップ湖へ！

https://tabinaka.co.jp/magazine/articles/100730