9Qeswachaka Bridge in Peru
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Suspended above the Apurimac River, this bridge is the only remaining bridge of a series of rope bridges dating back to the time of the Incas. It is made of woven local herb and then bound by eucalyptus trunks, which means it has to be built every year for its quick deterioration. Qeswachaka Bridge, hidden among the Andes Mountains, located on the Apurimac River in the Province of Canas, Peru, is a bridge with a short life but a long history. Its history, dating back to the time of the Incas, over 500 years ago, is a clear expression of the traditions inherited from generation to generation by the natives. Given the era of rope-hung bridges, the very difficult mountainous terrain of the Andes, economic, social, and military needs, the locals used circumstantial means and folk techniques to survive. Rope-hung bridges played an important economic and social role for a long time, but their life was short, as they were destroyed by burning or rotting over time. Qeswachaka Bridge in Peru, 118 meters long and 60 meters high, is the only bridge of its kind that exists and is used by the locals, thanks to its traditional annual reconstruction. The bridge has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013. Every year in June the Qeswachaka festival takes place, which lasts four days. The construction of the bridge is a traditional celebration in this area, with music and dances of the locals dressed in traditional clothes, respecting their religious rites. Click the next ARROW to see the next image!
