Nhoch Saroeun, Director of the Department of Culture and Fine Arts of Stung Treng Province, said that all the markers are over 100 years old and will be considered national heritage.
Sar Kimnath, director Department of Public Works and Transport of Stung Treng Province said that the main structures were built during the French colonial period, from Sambo district in Kratie province to the Cambodian-Lao border.
This construction of the markers to aid the navigation of boats due to the river’s strong undercurrents was carried out during the dry season.
Before the markers were erected, boatmen from Phnom Penh would only sail to Kratie province and hire local boatmen to navigate their boats to Laos.
The markers were built in the French colonial period and many remain intact with only some showing signs of damage or erosion, he added.
The Mekong River waterway from Anlong Vil at the Lao border to Phnom Penh is 388 kilometres, but river freight transportation has lost out to road transport, he said.
Men Kong, a spokesman for Stung Treng province, said, “We are surveying the river to ascertain how many markers were built, and once our research is complete we will send the findings to the relevant authorities”.
We want to list the markers as part of our national heritage,” he said.
According to khmertimeskh.com
