<item><hi format=bold>International disputes:</hi> offshore islands and sections of the boundary with Vietnam are in dispute; maritime boundary with Vietnam not defined; parts of border with Thailand in dispute; maritime boundary with Thailand not clearly defined
<item><hi format=bold>Climate:</hi> tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to October); dry season (December to March); little seasonal temperature variation
<item><hi format=bold>Terrain:</hi> mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north
<item><hi format=bold>Natural resources:</hi> timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential
<item><hi format=bold>Land use:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>arable land:</hi> 16%
<item>• <hi format=ital>permanent crops:</hi> 1%
<item>• <hi format=ital>meadows and pastures:</hi> 3%
<item>• <hi format=ital>forest and woodland:</hi> 76%
<item>• <hi format=ital>other:</hi> 4%
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Irrigated land:</hi> 920 sq km (1989 est.)
<item><hi format=bold>Environment:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>current issues:</hi> deforestation resulting in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries)
<item>• <hi format=ital>natural hazards:</hi> monsoonal rains (June to November)
<item>• <hi format=ital>international agreements:</hi> party to—Marine Life Conservation; signed, but not ratified—Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Note:</hi> a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap