In their most basic form， bridges help people get from point A to point B. Yet sometimes—like in the case of the Rakotz bridge in Kromlau， Germany （pictured）—the structure can transform the very landscape around it and become a work of art.

橋的基本功能是幫助人們從A點走到B點。然而有些情況下——如圖中這座位于德國Kromlau的Rakotz橋——卻能讓周圍的景色煥然一新，變身為藝術精品。

Architect Mayur Kanaiya gave special props to the Langkawi Sky Bridge， a 125m-long curving cable bridge at Mat Cincang mountain on Pulau Langkawi island. “The curving bridge deck allows visitors an intimate experience of the forest canopy and wildlife，” said Kanaiya. “Its a great example of treading lightly on the land.”

建筑師Mayur Kanaiya設計的這座蘭卡威天空之橋采用了獨特的支撐結構。這座蜿蜒125米長的索橋盤旋在蘭卡威島的馬西岡山山頂。Kanaiya說：“蜿蜒的橋面讓游客能夠近距離地感受森林與野生動物。它是在橋上輕盈漫步的典范?！?/p>

Instead of bricks， mortar or even standard planks of wood， the village of Cherrapunji in the state of Meghalaya—known as one of the wettest places in the world—builds bridges out of tree roots. The local War-Khasis tribe learned long ago how to tame the roots of the native focus to grow in a certain direction， using bamboo as support. Some of the bridges are more than 30m long and can support the weight of 50 people.

印度梅加拉亞邦的小村莊乞拉朋齊——被稱為世界上最濕潤的地方之一——這里的橋梁并非用磚塊、灰漿或木板建成，而是利用了樹根。當?shù)氐目ㄎ髯搴芫靡郧熬蛯W會了如何利用竹子作為支撐，來引導樹根向特定方向生長。一些橋梁的長度超過了30米，可以承受50人的重量。

While most bridges cross above water， the sunken bridge at Fort de Roovere near the village of Halsteren sinks just below it. The walls function like a dam to keep the water out and the structure blends seamlessly with its surroundings， remaining invisible from a distance.

大多數(shù)橋都在水面而建，德國Halsteren村附近的Fort de Roovere的這座下沉的橋則反其道而行。橋兩邊的墻像水壩一樣劈開河水，整座橋與周圍環(huán)境融為一體，從遠處根本看不見它。

Mechanical engineer Achilleas Vortselas had a special affection for stone bridges. “No modern bridge can compare in grace with traditional stone arch bridges，” he said. “Stone bridges often demonstrate the tenacity of mankind to overcome physical obstacles， even with modest technical means. Shaharah Bridge in Yemen is a marvellous case of that.”

機械工程師Achilleas Vortselas對石橋情有獨鐘。他說：“現(xiàn)代橋梁沒有傳統(tǒng)石拱橋的那種壯美。石橋即使工藝平平，但往往展示了人類克服自然局限的那種堅韌不拔的精神。也門的這座Shaharah橋就是一個極好的例子?！?/p>

In London， the 12m-long Rolling Bridge can curl to one side to let boats get through the Grand Union Canal at Paddington Basin. “Its eight steel and timber hinged sections will curl up until the two ends of the bridge meet， forming an octagonal shape，” said Koen Kas， an entrepreneur from Belgium. “Every Friday at noon， the bridge performs its ‘a(chǎn)crobatics for admiring crowds.”

在倫敦，有一座12米長的“滾橋”，它的橋身可向一邊卷起，方便來往船只通過帕丁頓盆地的大聯(lián)盟運河。比利時商人科恩·卡斯說道：“橋的八個橋段由鋼和木材制成，以鉸鏈連接，可以完全卷起使橋的兩頭相碰，成為一個八角形。每周五中午，這座橋都會給慕名前來觀看的人們表演這項‘雜技?！?