PLACES
Angkor
Tonle Sap
Phnom Penh

Area: 69,000 square miles, with the Mekong flowing through the country, providing a transportation waterway and bringing vital floods to the Tonle Sap, the largest fresh water lake in Southeast Asia resting on one of the most fertile plains. Densely forested mountains run along most of Cambodia's borders.

Population: 9 million, mostly of the Mon-Khmer racial family.

Capital: Phnom Penh, population about 1 million.

Economy: Cambodia is gradually rebuilding its traditional economy based on the production of rice and rubber, fish, vegetables, fruit, tobacco, coffee and kapok. Tourism shows great promise.

Climate: Tropical with occasional heavy rain from May to October. Best time to visit is October to March.

Language: Khmer. English and French are spoken in tourist areas.

Time: GMT plus 7

Currency: Riel