| The Kingdom of Cambodia is a country located in | | | | mammal, eight hundred bird and reptile species |
| Southeast Asia, and is home to more than | | | | and well over a thousand fresh and marine water |
| thirteen million citizens, bordering Thailand, Laos, | | | | fish. Lush plant life thrives in Cambodia, and in |
| and other Asian countries. The people of | | | | particular because of the efforts of The Tonle |
| Cambodia are made up of a variety of cultural | | | | Sap Biosphere Reserve, a unique environmentally |
| backgrounds, from Hindu to Muslim, and a few | | | | aware project, surrounding the lake. |
| traditional tribal villages are scattered throughout | | | | On a sadder note, Cambodia has the highest |
| the outskirts. Cambodia is a completely tropical | | | | deforestation rate in the world, and in the past |
| country on the gulf of Thailand, with average | | | | thirty years alone, has lost an estimated |
| temperatures ranging from sixty-five degrees | | | | sixty-two percent rain forest coverage. Between |
| fahrenheit to ninety-five degrees. | | | | the years of 1990 and 2005, Cambodia lost close |
| Aside from the tropical climate, a unique | | | | to ten thousand miles of forestry, leaving a mere |
| geographical feature in Cambodia is the lacustrine | | | | thousand square miles of forest left in the |
| plain, which takes up an estimated nine thousand | | | | country. This, naturally, leaves the country in a |
| square miles of land, and is widely used for wet | | | | severely bleak state, which is worsening because |
| rice cultivation, and is a designated ecological | | | | of illegal logging operations, and poachers who |
| reserve. About seventy five percent of Cambodia | | | | capitalize off the downfalls of the region. |
| is less than three hundred feet above sea level, | | | | The culture of Cambodia is lesser known than |
| with the few exceptions being three mountainous | | | | many of it's neighboring countries in Asia, but is |
| formations, the highest of which being less than | | | | very rich, and interesting to say the least. The |
| seven thousand feet in elevation. With Cambodia | | | | traditional cuisine of the inhabitants is decadent |
| being so low in elevation, the rainy seasons can | | | | with inspiration from traditional French tastes, a |
| prove to be wet, dreary, and even dangerous | | | | popular example being a favorite appetizer of |
| due to violent Monsoons. | | | | Cambodians consisting of toasted Baguettes and |
| Monsoon season in Cambodia lasts from May to | | | | red curry sauce. Curry is a staple spice and vital |
| October, and is accompanied by violent gusts of | | | | ingredient in many Cambodian and South Asian |
| ocean-laden wind from the Gulf of Thailand and | | | | dishes. Other popular tastes in Cambodia are |
| the Indian Ocean. During this wet season in Asia, | | | | coconut, tamarind, lime, fish sauce, and of course |
| villages become flooded, sometimes to the point | | | | rice. |
| of destruction, and even fatalities can occur. | | | | One of Cambodia's favorite past time is football, |
| During this five-month span of tropical monsoons, | | | | which was introduced to the South Asian country |
| and high humidity, Cambodia comes to life with a | | | | by the French during explorations. However, due |
| colorful array of flora and fauna. The region is | | | | to economical issues, competitive sporting events |
| home to more than two hundred species of | | | | are scarce in this region. |