Cambodia: Capital, Flag and Fun Facts

About Cambodia

Cambodia is a country in mainland Southeast Asia, with a coast on the Gulf of Thailand. Much of it is a land of rice paddies and forests shaped by the Mekong River and the Tonlé Sap lake. It is famous for Angkor Wat and the other temples of the ancient Khmer Empire.

About Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh sits where the Tonlé Sap and Mekong rivers meet and the Bassac River begins. Home to the Royal Palace, it was nicknamed the 'Pearl of Asia' for its graceful buildings.

Fun facts about Cambodia

1. Angkor Wat is the largest religious structure in the world, according to Guinness World Records.
2. Cambodia's national flag shows a picture of the temple Angkor Wat.
3. The Tonlé Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, and its river changes direction with the seasons.
4. In the rainy season, the Tonlé Sap lake swells to several times its dry-season size and floods nearby forests.
5. Fish amok, a fish curry steamed in banana leaves with coconut milk, is one of Cambodia's national dishes.
6. UNESCO recognized the Royal Ballet of Cambodia, with its graceful dancers in golden costumes, as cultural heritage in 2003.