Siem Reap province facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siem Reap សៀមរាប
Province
Siem Reap Province ខេត្តសៀមរាប
From top: Angkor Wat, South Gate of Angkor Thom, Phnom Kulen waterfall, moat of Angkor
Seal
Nickname(s):  Gateway to Angkor
Map of Cambodia highlighting Siem Reap
Country	Cambodia
Settled	802
Provincial status	23 December 1907
Capital	Siem Reap
Subdivisions	1 municipality; 13 districts
Area
• Total	10,299 km2 (3,976 sq mi)
Area rank	10th
Population  (2019)
• Total	1,014,234
• Rank	4th
• Density	98/km2 (250/sq mi)
• Density rank	13th
Time zone	UTC+07:00 (ICT)
ISO 3166 code	KH-17

Siem Reap, officially Siemreap (Khmer: សៀមរាប [siəm riəp]), is a province (khaet) of Cambodia. It borders the provinces of Oddar Meanchey to the north, Preah Vihear and Kampong Thom to the east, Battambang to the south, and Banteay Meanchey to the west. Its capital and largest city is Siem Reap.

Siem Reap province is the tenth largest province in Cambodia. Having reached a population of one million in 2019, it ranks as the nation's fourth most populous province. A large portion of Siem Reap province's southern border is demarcated by the Tonle Sap and as such, it is one of the nine provinces that making up the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve. In modern times the province is best known as the site of Angkor and the Angkor Wat temple ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also the home of Banteay Srei, Roluos (temples), the UNESCO tentative site of Beng Mealea, and the UNESCO tentative site of Phnom Kulen National Park, home to the country's largest reclining Buddha.

Etymology

The name Siem Reap literally means 'Siam defeated', a reminder of the centuries-old conflict between the Siamese and the Khmer. In Siam, the province and its capital were called Siemmarat (Thai: เสียมราฐ), literally meaning 'Siam's territory'.

History

The province came under the control of the Thai kingdom of Siam in 1795 and was later returned to Cambodia in 1907 after French made a treaty with Siam for exchange of Trat and Dan Sai for the Siamese province of Inner Cambodia which included Phra Tabong (Battambang), Siemmarat (Siem Reap), and Nakhon Wat (Angkor Wat). The Inner Cambodia province was split into Battambang and Siem Reap by the royal decree of King Sisowath the same year. This area became part of a disputed territory between France and Siam (now Thailand) which led to the Franco-Thai War in 1941, resulting in victory for Thailand and a return to Thai control (with exception of Siem Reap and Angkor Wat). The province again reverted to Cambodia in 1946, after the end of World War II with French and UN international pressure.

Religion

Religion in Siem Reap province (2019 census)      Buddhism (99.3%)     Christianity (0.4%)     Islam (0.2%)     Animism and Other religions (0.1%)

The state religion is Theravada Buddhism. More than 99.3% of the people in Siem Reap province are Buddhists. About 0.4% population of Siem Reap province follow Christianity. Islam which is mostly followed by Chams is 0.2% in the province.

Subdivisions

The province is divided into 1 municipality and 11 districts, and further subdivided into 100 communes and 907 villages.

Gallery

See also

In Spanish: Provincia de Siem Riep para niños