India wonderful the root bridge

位置：印度

分类：园林小品

内容：实景照片

图片：7张

在印度，梅加拉亚邦的村民们善于奇思妙想，他们运用大自然最纯粹的最独特的施工技术，使用橡皮树（橡胶无花果树）的根藤为当地人编织生活的桥梁。有些树根桥甚至有500年的编织历史，这需要人们非常大的耐心，因为树根桥若要真正生根，并变得足够坚实，需要近15年。虽然历经十多年时间，但这值得等待，有些桥50个人同时站在上面都不会塌。

印度乞拉朋齐常被认为是地球上降雨最多的地方。正是由于这种极度潮湿造就的特殊地形，印度橡胶树必须具有自己独特的树根才能生存下来，而当地人也不得不适应这种连续数日阴雨连绵的日子。次生根有助于印度橡胶树在不利环境下茁壮成长。另外，这一生长特点使得印度橡胶树成为在乞拉朋齐众多河流之上搭建天然桥梁的理想材料。通过就地取材，用现存植物建桥，他们创造了一种与环境和睦相处的绝佳范例：不产生任何非有机废料，不需要任何资源。

“树根桥”是当地人用辅助工具引导其向特定方向生长而成。他们将槟榔树干挖空，用于将印度橡胶树长出不久、细嫩的树根团团包起来。随后，树根会慢慢生长，从水面经过。一旦抵达另一端，它们就能在泥土中生根发芽。这时，便可以将辅助工具取走，让树根在自然环境下生长，最终造出一座天然的树根桥，美丽、坚实、耐用。

译者： 饭团小组

Villagers in Meghalaya, India have come up with a unique construction technique that harnesses nature in its purest form - they grow their own living bridges! Using the roots of the Ficus elastica tree (rubber fig tree), the residents have woven an elaborate system of living bridges, some of which are thought to be over 500 years old. These extraordinary examples of living architecture are also lessons in patience, since they take about 15 years to grow. With age though, the living root bridges grow stronger and can often support the weight of 50 or more people at a time!

The town of Cherrapunji in the Khasi Hills is credited with the world record for annual rainfall of over 75 ft! And in this rainy, wet climate, the rubber fig tree grows with abandon. The tree has a secondary root system that grows up above the ground floor and lets the tree easily grow on top of boulders and even out in the middle of streams. Long ago, the war-Khasis, a tribe in Meghalaya region, realized they could tap into the power of these roots and use them to their own advantage. By manipulating and directing the secondary roots, they could create ultra strong living bridges with which to cross streams and rivers.

To make a tree grow in a certain direction, the tribespeople use the trunks of a betul nut tree, sliced down the middle and hollowed out, as a guidance system. The thin, tender roots of the rubber tree are placed so they grow in the direction of the tree trunk rather than fanning out. Eventually, the roots reach the other side of the river and grow into the soil. This process can take well over a decade before the bridge is fully functional and then over time the bridge grows and strengthens. Rocks are placed along the bridge’s sides to improve the footpaths.

Some of these bridges are over 100 feet long and can even support the weight of fifty or more people at a time. These bridges are used daily by the people of the villages around Cherrapunji and a few are thought to be more than 500 years old. There is even a double decker bridge, known as the “Umshiang Double-Decker Root Bridge,” which features two bridges grown right on top of each other. It is thought to be the only bridge of its kind.

印度奇妙树根桥外部图

印度奇妙树根桥