Photo: Daily Mail

It’s a beautiful example of humanity and nature living in harmony. For at least five hundred years the people of Nongriat in Meghalaya, India, have been training rubber tree roots to grow across streams and rivers to form footbridges which are used every day. Some of the bridges are even stacked, one above the other.

The rubber tree roots are guided across the water on betel nut trunks, where they enter the soil on the other side. Flagstones and soil are then laid on the living platform, creating a path over the stream that’s strong enough to support 50 people. In the area known for a rapid growing jungle fed by fifteen meters of annual rainfall, this only takes a decade or so to accomplish.

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” (Genesis 2:15 NIV)