Living bridges

LIVING BRIDGES The state of Meghalaya in northeast India is one of the wettest regions in the world, with almost 39 ft (12 m) of rainfall each year. The rains flood the rivers, making travel difficult, but the local Khasi Tribe came up with a clever way to stay connected with other villages. Using the roots of the rubber fig tree, they built strong, living bridges that can hold up to 50 people at once.

This type of bridge is made by twisting the aerial roots (roots that grow above ground) of rubber fig trees around temporary bridges made of bamboo or tree trunks, which then rot away over time. Once the tree roots reach the other side of the river, they are planted into the ground so they can grow thicker and stronger. It can take about 15–20 years to build a living bridge, which can grow to more than 164 ft (50 m) in length. The strongest living bridges are more than 100 years old, with some believed to be more than 500 years old. This double-decker bridge in Cherrapunji is more than 180 years old, and the local people are now adding a third level to it to attract more tourists.