West Baray - Cambodia

A little history:

THE LARGEST MAN-MADE LAKE OF THE ANCIENT KHMER CIVILIZATION
A “baray” is a water reservoir built by the ancient Khmer people. The West Baray is the largest example of such a reservoir, and the only baray that still holds water. Visitors to the baray are stunned by its enormity and natural appearance.

It is difficult to believe that the West Baray is an artificial lake and not a natural one. This gargantuan reservoir is navigable by boat, up to 5 meters deep in places, and even contains its own man-made island.

To construct the West Baray, the Khmer people erected four earthen dikes in an 8 km by 2 km rectangle. Once the dikes were completed, rainwater filled the baray. Originally, the West Baray blanketed 1760 hectares of land with an average depth of 7 meters. Today, only the western two-thirds of the baray is filled with water and the average depth is about 4 meters.

Divit, Arwind, my next door neighbor, and Ken enjoy a lakeside lunch....







Waiting for a hand-out! BBQ fish, an after lunch nap, Arwind, and anyone for a tubing party?





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