That soft colourful sunrise over West Baray

Baray Teuk Thla/បារាយណ៍ទឹកថ្លា is the largest manmade water reservoir in Siem Reap, made during the Angkor Khmer empire.

This baray measures 2,1 x 7,8 kilometers and are secured by 12 meter tall earthen dikes. At maximum filling it contains 53 million m³ / 53 billion liters of water.

Almost a thousand years after being built, it is still one of the largest manmade water reservoirs on earth.

This photo is taken from the site of Prasat Ak Yum, អកយំ. It is a very ancient temple in the larger Angkor Archeological area. It is situated west on the south bank of West Baray. Parts of the temple area are covered by and probably got partly destroyed by the building of the giant water reservoir in the late 1000s CE.

Ak Yum temple is considered the oldest surviving example of a temple mountain in Southeast Asia, dating back to 674 CE. There are some speculations that Ak Yum was part of the last capital city before the Khmer Empire was established, the lost city of Banteau Choeu. This city was built as part of the transition to Khmer Empire from the Chenla Kingdom originally centered around Sambo Prey Kouk near Kampong Thom today.

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Switching water sources improved hygiene of Pompeii’s public baths https://arstechni.ca/MZzn #Archaeology #hydraulics #Science #Pompeii

Liquid gold poured by a warm sunset

People loving scenic sunsets will enjoy every evening in Siem Reap, Cambodia, too. And they will have a new spot every afternoon. These spots are both inside and outside Angkor Arhcaeological Park. And when taking in the sunset experience, you can eat well and enjoy refreshments from stalls nearby.

This shot was taken near the West Baray, បារាយណ៍ខាងលិច, the gigantic manmade water reservoir from the middle of the Khmer Angkor imperial era. Nearly 900 years after its completion it still plays a vital role in water and flood management for the Angkor Archaeological Park, Siem Reap city and the surrounding farmland.

The West Baray are used by locals and visitors alike, for leisure, bathing, boating, fishing and visit to the West Mebon temple on the artificial island in the Baray.

Built for the ages
Measuring appx 7.8 times 2.1-kilometre, West Baray is not a dugout. It is built with human made earthen dikes, with a height of 11,9 meters. The maximum capacity is 53 million m³ water. These 53 billion litres equal 14 billion gallons of water in medieval measurements.

It was finished appx 1066 CE, the same year England was conquered by the Norse rulers of Normandy.

West Baray is 12 kilometres from Central Siem Reap, mostly on flat, well-maintained roads. Easy to get to by tuktuk or car, or a nice, brisk bike ride morning or afternoon.

https://drzinasia.wordpress.com/2024/09/01/golden-sunset-near-west-mebon/

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