Koh Rong is the biggest of the islands off the coast of Sihanoukville in the Gulf of Thailand. It stretches from south-east to north-west, is roughly elongate shaped and it encompasses an area of 78 square km. The terrain is predominantly hilly with a sizable mountain (316 meters) at the island’s north-west. The hills provide water for countless creeks and estuaries. The island’s interior is almost completely forested, concealing a number of seasonal waterfalls. Koh Rong has around 43 kilometers of delicate beaches. There are no less than 23 beaches of varying length and coloration – from (predominantly) white to beige to rose-colored sands - along most of the coastline. Bays, protruding capes and impressive sandstone rock formations contribute to the island’s scenic panorama. The southern coastline - exposed to the weather and open sea, is particularly spectacular, whereas the eastern coast, which faces towards the land, is characterized by a sequence of smooth hills, gently sloping towards the numerous crescent-shaped beaches, inlets and bays. Several small islets and many reefs provide an abundance of natural environments for a great variety of marine life. The center of the island is a flat “belt” of sediments that joins the two hilly massifs of the south-east and north-west. Here is a small savanna - the result of human activities and cultivation.
Although most of the island's surface is still covered in forest, many years of illegal logging have seriously affected the quality and health of the jungle. Huge, old and slow-growing hardwood trees have become rare, the original arboreal variety is vanishing and gradually being replaced by commercial mono cultures, such as coco - and oil palms, in particular along the coast and in the lowlands.
Tiny Koh Tuich island lies off the South-East and the twin islands of Koh Bong-Po'own or Koh Song-Saa lie off the North-East of Koh Rong. To its South lies the uninhabited island of Koh Koun, followed by Koh Rong Sanloem island. These five islands comprise the Sangkat Koh Rong or Commune 5 of Mittakpheap District.
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