Incas
Q’eswachaca: The Inca’s straw bridge
Every year, the Q`eswachaca bridge is rebuilt, keeping alive an Inca tradition. Building this bridge made out of Puna grassland, called Ichu, was the only way settlers could cross the rivers in their time. This used to be part of a network of bridges in the Cuzco region and now is the only one of its kind, which exists thanks to the local villagers.
Andean women harvested, wove and built 6 thick ropes, which connect them to the rest of the villages at almost 13,000 feet over the Apurimac River. Four of the six ropes are placed in the bottom, and two are used as the straps. Each one is made out of thousands of thinner cords skillfully woven by women who passed this technique down from generation to generation. READ MORE
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