When the War-Khasis tribe needs a new bridge to cross one of the many criss-crossing rivers of the cherrapunji region, they don't build one. They grow it.
The root bridges, some of which are over a hundred feet long, take ten to fifteen years to become fully functional, but they're extraordinarily strong - strong enough that some of them can support the weight of fifty or more people at a time.
Because they are alive and still growing, the bridges actually gain strength over time - and some of the ancient root bridges used daily by the people of the villages around Cherrapunji may be well over five hundred years old.
Link - via rootbridges
From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by coconutnut.
Newest 5 Comments
10-15 years to build a bridge. They must be really patient if they wanted to cross it..
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Super neat!
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Versatile and sustainable, I like it!
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@ Larfin Jackarse. They actually got their idea from the Ents. Treebeard himself I think.
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I like the long-term planning aspect. Having to decide you need a bridge a decade or so beforehand is good for village communities.
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