Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is one of those capital cities in the world which enjoys a great geographical position. As many as three major rivers of South East Asia, come into a confluence at Phnom Penh, forming a X shaped land formation. River Mekong, Bassac and Tonle Sap meet at this confluence. As a result many refer to Phnom Penh as the “city of four rivers.” The history of Phnom Penh is a grand one filled with legendary stories of Kings and dynasties who have ruled Cambodia for years. Until 1866, Phnom Penh was under the reign of King Nordom I. However, by 1920, Phnom Penh underwent huge changes with French colonial expansion. The north Vietnamese used Phnom Penh as an army base during the painful phase of the Vietnamese War. With the War lasting for longer than usual, Cambodia in general and Phnom Penh in particular was flooded with refugees and victims of wars. The local government at Phnom Penh at that time faced a tough time in, managing the refugee problem.

The Geography and economy of Phnom Penh is heavily dependent on the three rivers that flow through the region. If the precipitation is more than usual, Phnom Penh often gets flooded with the three rivers overflowing their banks. Precipitation is highest at Phnom Penh from September to October. Winters are comparatively dry with almost no rainfall and long periods of dry spell lasting from November to March. However, fertility of the land is a natural phenomena at Phnom Penh. Majority of the population at Phnom Penh are engaged in farming and cultivation. However, a large portion of the population is also engaged in other official works and corporate jobs. Modern industries and new age buildings are also coming up in Phnom Penh in a major way. These modern architectural geniuses are fast replacing the ancient buildings of Phnom Penh.