MEGHLAYA BRIDGES

Meghalaya is a state in the north east of India. It is a heavily forested region very rainy. It is said to be the wettest place in the world, with an average annual rainfall as high as 1200cc in some areas; the town of Cherrapunji holds the world record for most rain in a calendar month. This means that during the raining season, those streams that are spread out through all the area, become indomitable torrents that destroy everything in their way, including bridges. That is why the inhabitants developed, centuries ago, an amazing way to create bridges that would withstand the flows: Natural living bridges made with directional roots.

If you want to see with your own eyes how they work, I strongly recommend the following video, extracted from a chapter, dedicated to the rivers, of Human Planet, an awesome BBC documentary. Absolutely all the chapters of Human Planet are amazing; I really encourage you to see them.