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The Root Bridges - Latikynsew Village, Cherrapunjee, India

The people of southern Meghalaya have experimented with various strategies to make a rubber tree’s roots grow in the correct direction, especially over a river. They often used wooden or bamboo scaffolds to train the roots across the temporary structure. They are then allowed to burrow into the soil on the other side. Eventually the roots merged with each other, forming strong bridges over the river. The image here shows a “double-decker” root bridge.