The People of Tonlé Sap Lake As it has been done for centuries, when the sun rises in the East forming light on Tonlé Sap, with neatly folded nets, fishermen leave their meek homes in small boats, to harvest fish. These people that I found to be so genuinely true, seemed to own a calming contentment that is seemingly unknown in the drama filled west. Their days are simple, and they live for the family. Tonlé Sap Lake in Cambodia is the largest fresh water lake in Southeast Asia, and unusual as its flow changes direction twice a year. The portion that forms the lake expands and shrinks dramatically with the seasons. From November to May, Cambodias dry season, the Tonlé Sap drains into the Mekong River. However, when the years heavy rains begin in June, the Tonlé Sap backs up to form an enormous lake. Tonle Sap not only supports some 500,000 tons of fish each year, it also is the home for more than three million people, 90% of them earn a living by harvesting fish. As you look at these my images made on and around the lake, know that all is not well on Tonlé Sap, with the overfishing to feed a fast-growing population, the cutting of mangrove forests that shelter young fish, and from the dry seasons that are growing hotter and longer, the century long life style of Tonlé Sap could be changing for the worse. - dba
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 14:47:50 +0000
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