Siem Reap Province, which attracts each year millions of tourists because it is the host of the famous Angkor Wat Temples, is located in the northwest of Cambodia. Most people go directly to Siem Reap city and the remaining beauty of the province is overlooked.
Geography of Siem Reap Province
Siem Reap Province is considered as the 10th province of Cambodia with Siem Reap as it capital. The province covers a total area of 10.299 square kilometres. It has borders with in the north the province Oddar Meanchey, in the east the provinces Preah Vihear and Kampong Thom, in the south Battambang and in the west Banteay Meanchey. In the south Siem Reap province is also connected with Tonle Sap which is the biggest fresh water lake in Southeast Asia. Phnom Kulen is an isolated mountain massif which provides the highest point 487 meters of Siem Reap province. The province is located around 314 kilometres from Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh. Siem Reap town itself is the 4th biggest city in Cambodia, behind Battambang, Kampong Cham and the capital Phnom Penh.
(Map source: Vidiani.com)
Districts in Siem Reap Province
Siem Reap Province consist of 12 districts, 100 communes and around 875 villages. Most of the villages are located in the disctricts Angkor Chum, Chi Kreng, Krolanh, Puk and Sot Nikum. Angkor Thom disctrict is the most well-know due to the fact that main Angkor Wat monument and the ancient city of Angkor Thom are located in this district. Many people also travel to Banteay Srei district to visit the famous Banteay Srei temple.
| District | Communes | Villages |
|---|---|---|
| Angkor Chum District | 7 | 84 |
| Angkor Thom District | 4 | 25 |
| Banteay Srei District | 6 | 27 |
| Chi Kreng District | 12 | 147 |
| Krolanh District | 10 | 97 |
| Puk District | 16 | 154 |
| Prasat Bakong District | 9 | 67 |
| Siem Reap District | 10 | 76 |
| Sot Nikum District | 10 | 113 |
| Srei Snom District | 6 | 39 |
| Svay Lea District | 5 | 21 |
| Varin District | 5 | 25 |
Fauna & Flora in Siem Reap Province
When we have a closer look at the flora of Siem Reap Province we notice that the biggest part consists out of plain wet areas, especially the main parts in the south. During wet season they cover the rice fields and other agriculture plantations and farms. In the north we can still experience the green forests which their rough jungle.
Although it doesn’t have a large width the Mekong river which flows through Siem Reap Province is very important for the province its vegetation and daily living of its population. The river flows from Phnom Kulen, trought the north of Siem Reap Province where it ends in Tonle Sap Lake.
Snakes, spiders, geckos and other insects are still around but besides some monkeys running around the temples that there isn’t much wildlife anymore in Siem Reap Province. Most of the wildlife is controlled and preserved in animal parks.
