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In the forests of north-eastern India, rivers and streams are crossed using structures crafted from ancient banyan trees. Forged by tangled roots and vines, these living tree bridges are both a natural wonder and an engineering masterclass. Cherrapunji is one of the world’s wettest places, so normal wooden structures would rot and break. Living bridges avoid this problem. By carefully guiding the strong, thick tree roots across rivers and voids, local Khasi people have grown permanent crossings that only get stronger over time. Planning is required: they take 10 to 15 years to grow. (Photo by Amos Chapple/Rex Features)
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