Explore Mondolkiri
Mondulkiri (Khmer: មណ្ឌលគិរី, UNGEGN: Môndôlkĭri, ALA-LC: Maṇḍalagirī [mɔndɔl.kiriː]; lit. '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 established in 1961 from the eastern part of Kratié province. The capital is the town of Senmonorom.
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 farming. Schools, hospitals and even entire villages were destroyed. As many as half of the people in the province died during the forced relocation in the 1970s.
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 Senmonorom which is located in the southeastern part of the province about 390 km (240 mi) from Phnom Penh, the national capital. Waterfalls