Angkor Cambodia

The ancient Khmer city of Angkor in Cambodia was the largest preindustrial metropolis in the world, with a population near 1 million and an urban sprawl that stretched over an area similar to modern-day Los Angeles, researchers reported Monday. The city's spread over an area of more than 115 square miles was made possible by a sophisticated technology for managing and harvesting water for use during the dry season -- including diverting a major river through the heart of the city.

When French travel writer Pierre Loti took an ox cart to Angkor shortly after Westerners rediscovered it in the 19th century, he found creeper-choked ruins and the profound silence of the Cambodian jungle. Siem Reap, population 100,000, now at its threshold, has scores of fancy resort hotels, a pub street, a new branch of the national museum and an international airport where millions of tourists arrive every year to see the fabled temples of Angkor. The Khmer Empire, which ruled much of Southeast Asia from 800 to 1400, built monuments all over Cambodia, but the rigors of getting to them, many in rough territory ringed by land mines left after Cambodia's long civil war, kept many travelers away.

A prolonged drought punctuated by intense monsoons that partially destroyed the city's water-preservation infrastructure led to the 15th century collapse of the ancient city of Angkor, capital of the Khmer Empire, U.S. and Asian researchers reported. Researchers had suspected that water scarcity played a role in the city's demise, and the first tree-ring chronology in Asia provides strong support for that speculation. It shows that the drought persisted for decades, which would have severely strained the city's ability to survive.

A prolonged drought punctuated by intense monsoons that partially destroyed the city's water-preservation infrastructure led to the 15th century collapse of the ancient city of Angkor, capital of the Khmer Empire, U.S. and Asian researchers reported. Researchers had suspected that water scarcity played a role in the city's demise, and the first tree-ring chronology in Asia provides strong support for that speculation. It shows that the drought persisted for decades, which would have severely strained the city's ability to survive.

At the magical temple of Ta Prohm, 200-year-old trees grow from the ruins, their roots embracing the ancient stone walls like giant snakes. Archeologists from India are trying to preserve the trees -- and the temple's romantic spirit -- for as long as possible. Down the road, at the magnificent, sprawling temple of Angkor Wat, a Japanese-led crew grafts newly quarried sandstone onto broken 12th century blocks in a state-of-the-art effort to save the building known as the northern library.

When French travel writer Pierre Loti took an ox cart to Angkor shortly after Westerners rediscovered it in the 19th century, he found creeper-choked ruins and the profound silence of the Cambodian jungle. Siem Reap, population 100,000, now at its threshold, has scores of fancy resort hotels, a pub street, a new branch of the national museum and an international airport where millions of tourists arrive every year to see the fabled temples of Angkor. The Khmer Empire, which ruled much of Southeast Asia from 800 to 1400, built monuments all over Cambodia, but the rigors of getting to them, many in rough territory ringed by land mines left after Cambodia's long civil war, kept many travelers away.

Angkor: A photo caption in Tuesday's Section A with an article about the ancient Khmer city of Angkor in Cambodia said the temple in the photo was Angkor Wat. It was the Bayon temple. The article also gave the area of the city as 115 square miles. It is 1,350 square miles.

The ancient temple complex in Angkor, Cambodia , represents remnants of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to 15th century. Although Angkor Wat is among the most famous, other temples -- Baphoun, West Mebon and one in West Baray -- are equally impressive. Roland Fletcher, an archeologist who teaches at the University of Sydney in Australia and directs the Greater Angkor Project , will lead informal talks and tours to these sites as "scholar in residence" at Amansara resort in December.

New York-based Japanese artist Kenro Izu will display his photography of the architecture and sculptures of a 12th century temple in Angkor Wat, Cambodia, from June 17 to Aug. 13 at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton. The Muckenthaler Cultural Center is at 1201 W. Malvern Ave. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for students and seniors and free for children 12 and under. Information: (714) 738-6340.

The 12th-century temples in Angkor, Cambodia, stand as astonishing remnants of the powerful Khmer Empire that once ruled Southeast Asia. The ancient site last week picked up a new accolade: most beloved World Heritage Site. That assessment comes from travel website TripAdvisor, which partnered with UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre to find out which sites travelers would recommend as must-see tourist stops. Nearly 250,000 people over the last year submitted feedback on 789 sites (the list has expanded to 911)

The ancient Khmer city of Angkor in Cambodia was the largest preindustrial metropolis in the world, with a population near 1 million and an urban sprawl that stretched over an area similar to modern-day Los Angeles, researchers reported Monday. The city's spread over an area of more than 115 square miles was made possible by a sophisticated technology for managing and harvesting water for use during the dry season -- including diverting a major river through the heart of the city.

At the magical temple of Ta Prohm, 200-year-old trees grow from the ruins, their roots embracing the ancient stone walls like giant snakes. Archeologists from India are trying to preserve the trees -- and the temple's romantic spirit -- for as long as possible. Down the road, at the magnificent, sprawling temple of Angkor Wat, a Japanese-led crew grafts newly quarried sandstone onto broken 12th century blocks in a state-of-the-art effort to save the building known as the northern library.

The world's best ruins, as determined by editors and contributors at America Online's Travel Corner: Angkor Wat, Cambodia (above) Enormous 12th century temple with spectacular bas relief Machu Picchu, Peru Fortress city of the ancient Incas Mayan ruins, in Guatemala, Mexico and Belize Major indian civilization dating to about 1,500 BC Luxor, Egypt Temple of Luxor, built during reign of Amenhotep III (about 1411-1372 BC) Petra, Jordan Ancient rock city with hillside tombs Ephesus, Turkey

One of my favorite international vacations was to the temples at Angkor in Cambodia. What made it particularly enjoyable was my private (and inexpensive) tour guide, Vanny Chhim. Vanny is knowledgeable about the entire area around Siem Reap, and he is fluent in English. What makes him special is that he has kept in touch with me for the last three years via email, sharing his experiences and family life. I've never had any other tour guide do this. If you're looking for an enjoyable private excursion on his tuk-tuk, contact him at vanny_angkor@hotmail.com . Joel Miller Los Angeles