This bridge is very different to the ones that we use, the biggest difference is that it’s alive! This is just one of around 75 ‘living root bridges’ that can be found in the subtropical forests of Meghalaya, India. Considered one of the wettest regions in the world, communities depend on them for traversing the mountainous terrain and crossing flooded rivers during the monsoon season.
Following in the footsteps of their ancestors who began this practice centuries ago, indigenous communities continue to create and maintain the living root bridges. The process involves manipulating and weaving the flexible aerial roots of Ficus elastica trees which thicken and naturally fuse together over time. After many years they eventually become so strong that they’re said to be able to support the weight of up to 50 people!
Ficus elastica (also know as the rubber plant) cannot survive the UK climate, but they do make great houseplants!
📷 Feature image credit: dinesh babu, Flickr.
