Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Extension
  • India
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil
  1. Home
  2. Bing Gallery
  3. India
  4. 2019
  5. June 27
  6. Living root bridge in Meghalaya
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios Living root bridge in Meghalaya

June 27, 2019

Living root bridge in Meghalaya

© dhritipurna/Shutterstoc

This bridge is alive. The roots of invention

Living root bridges like this can be found in the tropical rainforests of Meghalaya, which is among the wettest places on Earth. The gentle waterways that flow through the region’s valleys become gushing torrents during the summer monsoon season and will wash away traditional bamboo bridges. So, generations of indigenous Khasi people have devised a way of building root bridges by shaping living trees.It works like this: Rubber fig trees are planted or located on opposite riverbanks. As the trees' above-ground roots grow, the Khasi will guide them across the water, sometimes with the support of temporary scaffolding, like bamboo. After years of patient tending, the roots will eventually join and take hold of each other, forming a living suspension bridge that provides safe passage over the swollen rivers. The innovation has proved critical to the Khasi people. In this environment, bridges made from harvested materials would quickly rot and fall apart, leaving villages cut off and isolated. Building a living root bridge requires patience, though. It takes about 15 to 30 years to grow one sturdy enough to support humans. But investment pays off. As these bridges age, they get stronger. Some are 100 feet long and can hold over 50 people.

tree outdoor water jungle landscape nature plant riparian forest nature reserve creek riparian zone woodland state park old-growth forest river

Related Images

Synchronous fireflies, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TennesseeSynchronous fireflies, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

Today on Bing

Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore at dusk, Florence, Italy

Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore at dusk, Florence, Italy

Jun 27, 2024
Sedona, Arizona

Sedona, Arizona

Jun 27, 2023
Lavender fields on the Valensole Plateau in Provence, France

Lavender fields on the Valensole Plateau in Provence, France

Jun 27, 2022
Common rhododendrons in Semper Forest Park, Ruegen, Germany

Common rhododendrons in Semper Forest Park, Ruegen, Germany

Jun 27, 2021
The Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona in Italy

The Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona in Italy

Jun 27, 2020

Related Tags

tree nature outdoor landscape water river plant creek forest nature reserve riparian forest riparian zone wooded surrounded grass waterfall natural landscape stream watercourse green
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
  • © 2025 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.