Kampong Thom province facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kampong Thom កំពង់ធំ
Province
Kampong Thom Province ខេត្តកំពង់ធំ
Sambor Prei Kuk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the symbol of the province
Seal
Map of Cambodia highlighting Kampong Thom
Country	Cambodia
Provincial status	1907
Capital	Kampong Thom
Subdivisions	1 municipality; 8 districts
Area
• Total	13,814 km2 (5,334 sq mi)
Area rank	2nd
Population  (2019)
• Total	681,549
• Rank	11th
• Density	49/km2 (130/sq mi)
• Density rank	17th
Time zone	UTC+07:00 (ICT)
Dialing code	+855
ISO 3166 code	KH-6

Kampong Thom is a large province in Cambodia. Its name in the Khmer language means 'Great Port'. It shares borders with several other provinces, like Siem Reap to the northwest. To the west, it touches the famous Tonle Sap lake.

The main city and capital of Kampong Thom is Stung Saen. This city has about 30,000 people and sits by the Stung Sen River. Kampong Thom is the second largest province in Cambodia by land area.

This province is home to important ancient sites from the Angkorian period. One of the most famous is Sambor Prei Kuk, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kampong Thom is also part of the Tonlé Sap Biosphere Reserve. This means it's a special area for nature and wildlife.

What's in the Name?

The name Kampong Thom comes from the Khmer words Kampong and Thom. Kampong means 'port' or 'harbor'. You might hear this word in other Asian languages too, like Malay and Indonesian, where it means 'village'.

The word Thom means 'big', 'grand', or 'large'. So, when you put them together, Kampong Thom means 'Great Port' or 'Big Harbor'.

A Legend of Great Snakes

Long ago, this province was called Kampong Pous Thom. This meant 'Port of the Great Snakes'. A local story says that two very large snakes lived in a cave near a dock by the Sen River.

These snakes would appear to people on every Buddhist holiday. Because of this, people started calling the area Kampong Pous Thom. Over time, the snakes disappeared, and the name was shortened to just Kampong Thom.

How the Province is Run

Kampong Thom province is divided into smaller parts to help manage it. It has eight main districts and one municipality (a type of city area). These are then split into 81 smaller areas called communes.

A Look Back in Time

Kampong Thom was once a very important capital city in Southeast Asia. This was during the time of the Kingdom of Funan. Many years later, during the Chenla era, the famous Prasat Sambor Prei Kuk temple complex was built here.

When the French ruled Cambodia, they divided the land into provinces. They often used the popular local names for these areas. This is how Kampong Thom got its official name.

The ancient temple complex of Sambor Prei Kuk in northern Kampong Thom.

Nature and Wildlife

Kampong Thom is special because it's home to two important areas within the Tonlé Sap Biosphere Reserve. These areas are protected to help keep nature safe.

• Boeng Chhmar covers 14,560 hectares.
• Stung Saen covers 6,355 hectares.

Prey Pras, Kampong Thom

What People Do for a Living

A big part of Kampong Thom is on the flat land near the Tonlé Sap lake. This area is great for farming and fishing. In 2003–2004, the province produced a lot of wild fish. It was also the fourth largest producer of fish raised in farms.

Many families raise fish at home. A growing number of people are also raising fish in their rice fields. Kampong Thom is also one of the biggest producers of cashew nuts in Cambodia. In 2003–2004, over 6,300 hectares of land were used to grow cashews.

The province is one of the largest producer of cashews in the country.

Rice paddies in Baray District.

Irrigation canals and farmlands

Famous People from Kampong Thom

Many notable people have come from Kampong Thom province.

• Eng Chhai Eang, a politician
• Kouch Sokumpheak, a footballer
• Nguon Nhel, a politician

Places to Visit

• 

  Tonle Sap See

• 

  Sambor Prei Kuk

• 

  Phnom Santuk

• 

  Prey Pras

See also

In Spanish: Provincia de Kompung Thom para niños