The Guardian has a fascinating look at the living tree root bridges in the state of Meghalaya, India, reputedly the world's wettest place. India as applied to UNESCO to designate the living root bridges there as a world heritage site. Here's how they are formed:
"Once a bamboo structure has been stretched across the river, the roots of the tree, usually the rubber tree (Ficus elastica), are teased and manipulated to become entwined with the bamboo until it becomes a strong mesh.
The roots are allowed to grow gradually and strengthen over time. In the initial stages, only about 15-20 people can cross the bridge in a day. Much later, it can be as many as 50 or more, although it can take up to two decades for a living roots bridge to be finished.
In a remote region such as Meghalaya, known as the 'Abode of Clouds' and home to the 'wettest place on earth' in Cherrapunji, building roads is not feasible. The topography is dense jungle dotted with waterfalls, steep slopes, lakes and streams."
The bridges are more than a natural attraction, they serve villages on either side in the transportation of goods and services. Some are "double decker" in construction, and are many decades old.
National Public Radio had a similar article on the bridges last summer, with some interesting and stunning photos, like this one of a "double decker" bridge (click to enlarge):
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| (photo: Prasenjeet Yadov) |
