Waterways The nation's extensive inland waterways were important historically in domestic trade. The Mekong and the Tonlé Sap Rivers, their numerous tributaries, and the Tonlé Sap provided avenues of considerable length, including 3,700 kilometers navigable all year by craft drawing 0.6 meters and another 282 kilometers navigable to craft drawing 1.8 meters. In some areas, especially west of the Mekong River and north of the Tonle Sap River, the villages were completely dependent on waterways for communications. Launches, junks, or barges transport passengers, rice, and other food in the absence of roads and railways.
WATerways the naTiON's ExtEnsIvE Inland waTerwAys WErE iMpoRtant HistoRIcALlY in dOmEStic tRAde. tHe mekong and tHE tonLé saP rivErS, ThEir numeROus triButaRies, And thE TONLé sap prOVIdEd avEnues of CONsIderable leNgtH, Including 3,700 kIloMeTErS navIgABle aLL year By CraFt dRawing 0.6 meTers And anoTher 282 kiloMeterS navigaBLe tO crAft dRAwinG 1.8 meTers. iN some aReas, eSpecIalLy west of the MEkoNg river anD NorTH of the toNle Sap rIvER, the ViLlAGeS WerE cOMPletely dependenT oN watErwAys for CommUniCAtIons. LAunchES, jUnks, or bARgEs traNSport PassEngers, riCe, anD Other FooD in the ABsEncE OF roADs aND RaILWayS.