Researchers from Germany investigated living root bridges of in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya. They have proposed to integrate them in modern architecture around the world, and potentially help make cities more environment-friendly.
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The jing kieng jri or living root bridges — aerial bridges built by weaving and manipulating the living roots of the Indian rubber tree — have been serving as connectors for generations in Meghalaya.
Spanning between 15 and 250 feet and built over centuries, the bridges, primarily a means to cross streams and rivers, have also become world-famous tourist attractions.
A root bridge uses traditional tribal knowledge to train roots of the Indian rubber tree, found in abundance in the area, to grow laterally across a stream bed, resulting in a living bridge of roots.
The process begins with placing of young pliable aerial roots growing from Ficus elastica (India rubber) trees in hollowed out Areca catechu or native bamboo trunks. These provide essential nutrition and protection from the weather, and also perform as aerial root guidance systems.
Over time, as the aerial roots increase in strength and thickness, the Areca catechu or native bamboo trunks are no longer required.
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