Cambodia, Constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia.
Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia, located on the Indochinese Peninsula between Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. Central plains cross the territory, shaped by the Mekong and its tributaries, while the Cardamom Mountains in the southwest and the Dangrek Range along the Thai border frame the lowlands.
The kingdoms of Funan and Chenla ruled the territory from the 1st to the 8th century before Jayavarman II founded the Khmer Empire in 802, which expanded across much of Southeast Asia in the following centuries. After Angkor fell in 1431, the political center shifted to Phnom Penh, French protectorate lasted from 1863 until independence in 1953.
Daily life follows Theravada Buddhist teachings, visible in the orange robes of monks, the temples lining every street, and the offerings placed by worshippers each morning. Craft workshops pass down skills like silk weaving, silverwork, and stone carving from one generation to the next, while classical dance and shadow theater preserve the artistic heritage.
International flights reach Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, while land borders offer connections to Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, visa on arrival available for most nationalities. November through February bring cooler temperatures between 77 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit (25 to 30 degrees Celsius) with little rain, riel is official currency but US dollars are widely accepted.
Tonle Sap reverses its flow every year when monsoon rains swell the Mekong and push water back into the lake. This reversal expands the lake surface from about 1,042 square miles (2,700 square kilometers) in dry season to as much as 6,178 square miles (16,000 square kilometers) during rainy season, floating villages adapt to these extreme water level changes by shifting their position throughout the year.
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