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11. Vivre sur le lac |
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Tonle Sap: Source of Lives
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Living on the lake Almost three million people live on the lake or in the floodplains, making up about a quarter of Cambodia's total population. They are distributed over six provinces. The population is rapidly growing and is on the average younger than in the rest of the country. Khmer, Vietnamese, Chinese and Cham (Muslim) people live together around the lake. The three kinds of dwelling you are likely to see are: Palm leaf or wodden houses on stilts, which are very common on and around the lake; Floating houses made from bamboo tied together, which move with the seasons; And boats used as houses, usually inhabited by the poorest fishermen. Homes are almost always built near or on the water, but for economic reasons rather than pleasure. |
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What do Tonle Sap's inhabitants do for a living? It is usually easy to assess people's standard of living from their dwellings and their jobs. As you can imagine, fishing and related activities are by far the main livelihood for people living around the lake, but it's not the only one… The villagers who live "upland," that is to say beyond the floodplain, are involved in agriculture but fish from time to time. Floating stores or traders in canoes are also very common: go on the lake during the rainy season and you are sure to meet many women transporting fruit, clothing or more surprising items on their small boats, stopping at every house to sell their merchandise. [next] |
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