In a rainy part of India, people don't build bridges with steel. Instead, they "grow" them! By guiding tree roots over decades, they create living paths that get stronger as they age.
In the state of Meghalaya, India - one of the wettest places on Earth - steel and wood bridges quickly rot or rust away. To solve this, the local Khasi people use a patient and brilliant method: they grow their bridges.
The process starts with the Ficus elastica (Indian Rubber Tree). These trees have powerful secondary roots that grow above the ground.
While most bridges get weaker over time, these "living bridges" actually get stronger. As the roots age and knit together, the humid and rainy weather helps the tree thrive. Some of these bridges can hold 50 people at once!
The living root bridges are a perfect example of humans working with nature instead of against it. They can last for over 500 years, making them one of the most sustainable pieces of architecture in the world.
