Russian Key to the Mekong River

... exaggerated. The mighty river is the source of water and sustenance for ten million people across six nations as well as a major traffic artery, capable of providing electrical energy for the needs of the industry. As a matter of fact, the prosperity of Cambodia is largely provided by the Mekong River and its “storehouse”—the Tonlé Sap Lake, rightly called the “heart of the country”. During the rainy season, the lake expands fivefold, while shrinking during droughts. Local fish catches (500 thousand tons per year) provide the ...