Deep in the northwest of India are one of the rainiest places and wet in the world, is the region where it grows Meghalaya Cherrapunji city famous for the high rates of annual precipitation.
Heavy rains increase the flow of water from mountain streams and creates powerful turbulent streams and rivers impossible to cross.
The locals, however, have a unique system of bridges that are not built by human hands but by the nature that provides solutions to the obstacles presented themselves.
It is a kind of Indian rubber tree with strong root systems that grow and thrive year after year. The Ficus Elastica produces a number of secondary roots at the top of the trunk that can sit comfortably over the huge rocks that lie along the banks of rivers or even crossing to the other side, under the enormous lengths develop (just over 30 meters).
You only have to fit them into a frame of logs to grow in the desired direction, passing over the watercourse and take root on the other side. Therefore, where the need arises … just grow a bridge!
These trees are 500 years old and a huge resistance to the point that fifty people could cross simultaneously without suffering any damage.
Bridges were re-discovered by Denis P. Cherrapunji Holiday Resort Rayen has made great efforts to promote interest and historical importance of the bridges, alerting local people about their potential value also as a tourist attraction, preventing them to be destroyed in favor of steel.
In fact, a new root has been extended and is growing strong to be used as a bridge within a decade.