Submitted by Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor
Photographer Amos Chapple brings us a fascinating look into Meghalaya, India, known as the wettest place on Earth. The area receives 467 inches of precipitation per year and under these conditions residents have over centuries adopted several means to cope. In particular is the issue of bridges.
Ordinary bridges constructed of lumber suffer rot under such an environment and are impractical. It was discovered that Rubber Trees possessed a root system that was not only trainable, but could be woven together to form structurally sound bridges.
The Atlantic features several photographs of this and other sustainable measures taken. The notion of living structures has been explored scientifically in the West but no practical examples exist. Here a simple solution is found.
Please visit the article in The Atlantic for Amos’ photographs and a perspective on the community.
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2014/08/meghalaya-the-wettest-place-on-earth/100797/
By Darren Smith
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