Скачать или смотреть The Last Inca Rope Bridge: Q'eswachaka's Annual Rebirth

The Incas built an extensive network of suspension bridges made of grass, enabling swift travel across the Andes. These bridges were constructed and maintained through communal effort, embodying the Incan spirit of cooperation. The most famous is the Q'eswachaka Bridge, which is still rebuilt annually by local villagers in a centuries-old tradition. The Q'eswachaka Bridge is a remarkable testament to Inca engineering, spanning 28 meters across the Apurimac River. Its construction relies on a specific type of tough fiber, ichu grass, which villagers expertly twist and weave into strong cables. This annual rebuilding ceremony is more than just maintenance; it is a profound cultural event that reaffirms communal bonds and honors ancestral traditions. Recognizing its unique cultural value, UNESCO declared the bridge and its associated rituals an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013. The practice represents a direct, living link to the sophisticated road and bridge network that was the backbone of the vast Inca Empire.