Mondulkiri Province

Mondulkiri, officially Mondul Kiri[3] (Khmer: មណ្ឌលគិរី, IPA: [mɔn ˌdɔːl ki ˈriː], "Center of Mountains"), is a province (khaet) of Cambodia. Bordering the provinces of Kratié to the west, Stung Treng to the northwest, Ratanakiri to the north and the country of Vietnam to the east and south, it is the most sparsely populated province in the country despite being the largest in land area. The province was created in 1961 from the eastern part of Kratié Province. The capital is the town of Senmonorom.

This article is about the Cambodian province. For the village at Karnataka, India, see Mandalagiri.

Mondulkiri Province

មណ្ឌលគិរី
Province
Top: Mondulkiri landscape
Bottom: Kouprey roundabout
Seal
Map of Cambodia highlighting Mondulkiri
Coordinates: 12°27′N 107°14′E
Country Cambodia
Provincial status30 December 1961
Named forKhmer: មណ្ឌល (Center of) + គិរី (Mountains)
CapitalSenmonorom Municipality
Government
 • GovernorSvay Sameang (CPP)
 • National Assembly
Area
 • Total14,288 km2 (5,517 sq mi)
Area rank1st
Population
 (2019 census)[1]
 • Total 88,649
 • Rank23rd
 • Density6/km2 (20/sq mi)
 • Density rank25th
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Dialing code+855
ISO 3166 codeKH-11
Districts5
Communes21
Villages98
Websitemondulkiri.gov.kh
[2]

History

In 1960 Mondulkiri was created out of Kratié Province by order of King Norodom Sihanouk. Saen Monorom was set up as the capital in 1962. During the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, Mondulkiri was home to three bases of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam which resulted in numerous incursions and bombings by US forces. About 1970 the area fell under Khmer Rouge domination. Subsequently, much of the populace was forcibly removed to Koh Nhek (Kaoh Nheaek) district to provide labor for rice growing. Schools, hospitals, even entire villages were destroyed. As many as half of the people in the province died during the forced relocation in the 1970s.

The Bunong people appear to have lived in the provincial area for about 2000 years, but there is little documentation until France colonized Cambodia in 1864. Like other people in the province, the Bunong were displaced in the 1970s and only allowed to return to their traditional homeland in the 1980s.[4]

Administrative divisions

The province is subdivided into 4 districts and 1 municipality, which are further subdivided into 21 communes and 98 villages.[2]

ISO Code District Khmer
11-01 Kaev Seima ស្រុកកែវសីមា
11-02 Kaoh Nheaek ស្រុកកោះញែក
11-03 Ou Reang ស្រុកអូររាំង
11-04 Pechr Chenda ស្រុកពេជ្រាដា
11-05 Senmonorom Municipality ក្រុងសែនមនោរម្យ

Geography and environment
Dense forests of Mondulkiri Province.
Busra Waterfall
Ziplining over Busra Waterfall with Mayura Hills Resort[5]

Mondulkiri is Cambodia's largest and also most sparsely populated province, containing an area of 14,288 km2 (5,517 sq mi) with elevations ranging from 190 to 1,000 metres (620 to 3,280 ft). It is located in the south-east part of the country and borders three provinces in Vietnam; Đắk Lắk, Đắk Nông, and Bình Phước provinces. Three rivers cross the province; Srepok, Preaek Chhbaar, and Preaek te Rivers.

The provincial capital is Sen Monorom which is located in the southeastern part of the province about 390 km (240 mi) from Phnom Penh, the national capital.[2]

Waterfalls

Mondulkiri is known for its forested hills and powerful waterfalls. Some waterfalls include:

  • Bou Sra Waterfall. Located at Pich Chinda District, 43 kilometers from Senmonorom town, Bou Sra is the largest waterfall, made famous by a popular Khmer song in Mondulkiri. It is a three-tiered natural waterfall with only the first two tiers accessible to public view. There is a zipline run by local hotel Mayura Hills Resort that runs over the waterfall.[6]
  • Senmonorom Waterfall. Five kilometers from town and an easy walk.
  • Romnea Waterfall. Ten kilometers from Senmonorom, Romnea waterfall is actually 1 of 3 large waterfalls that has now been deforested and privatised.

Protected areas

Mondulkiri faces a significant threat from illegal loggers attempting to exploit the province's virgin tropical seasonal forests.[7] The province holds a number of protected areas including Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary, and Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary, which cover evergreen, semi-evergreen, and dry Dipterocarp forests.

Demographics

Eighty percent of Mondulkiri's population is made up of ten tribal minorities, with the majority of them being Pnong. The remaining 20 percent are Khmer, Chinese, and Muslims Cham.

Economy and transportation

Road development continues to impact seriously on indigenous communities like the Pnong ethnic group. According to a United Nations paper, the construction of a road from Mondulkiri to Ratanakiri has resulted in massive land grabbing.[8]

Sen Monorom is connected to the rest of the province to the south-west, along the border with Vietnam, by National Highway 76 and to the north by Highway 141.

Culture

Although more and more houses are built in 'Khmer style', traditional Phnong houses can still be found. Pnong houses contain large jars (which are said to be more than a thousand years old) and traditional gongs. There are various gongs used at different occasions. Jars and gongs are among the most valuable possessions of indigenous communities both in traditional and spiritual as well as material terms. During the times of Pol Pot those objects were buried in hidden places in the jungle and in many cases they still wait in the ground.

gollark: It's a shame, because I had a much cooler firm name but can't afford to make a firm.
gollark: Central Bank Balance: -27,315,927.59 M¢, apparently.
gollark: Don't worry, we have!
gollark: It's not like you need many people to notice this obvious stupid problem.
gollark: Yes.

References
  1. "General Population Census of the Kingdom of Cambodia 2019". National Institute of Statistics. Ministry of Planning. June 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  2. "Mondulkiri - Tourism & Development (Kingdom of Cambodia)". Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  3. https://unstats.un.org/unsd/geoinfo/UNGEGN/docs/8th-uncsgn-docs/inf/8th_UNCSGN_econf.94_INF.30_corr1.pdf
  4. "Mondulkiri - Tourism & Development (Kingdom of Cambodia) - History". Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  5. "Guide to the Wild East of Cambodia – what to do and where to go in the Green Triangle". 2 July 2017.
  6. "Guide to the Wild East of Cambodia – what to do and where to go in the Green Triangle". onceinalifetimejourney.com/. Once in a Lifetime Journey. 2 July 2017.
  7. Illegal Logging in Mondulkiri – a Test Case for Forest Sector Law Enforcement, Global Witness.
  8. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Economic and Social Council, United Nations.
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