Saturday, December 25, 2010

Sunday, December 12, 2010

GREEN RAILWAYS IN EUROPE












































































































































































































Sunday, December 5, 2010

THE NATURAL ROOT BRIDGES OF CHERRAPUNJI, INDIA

Deep within the southern Khasi and Jaintia hills (north eastern India), the humid and warm climate determines unusual natural shapes and rich vegetation. This is the place where bridges grow naturally instead of being built.

The Ficus elastica is a a species of Indian rubber tree with very strong roots which have the ability to extend and surpass any obstacle, whether we are talking about boulders or rivers. This is how these amazing root bridges of Cherrapunji were formed. Currently they serve as means of locomotion for the locals.


Some of these bridges are incredibly strong and can hold up to 55 people at a time. The root bridges have a medium length of a hundred feet (about 30 meters) and some of them are 500 years old.