What is Inca rope bridge?
'''Inca rope bridges''' were simple [[suspension bridge|suspension]] [[bridge]]s over [[canyon]]s and [[gorge]]s to provide access for the [[Inca Empire]]. Bridges of this type were suitable for use since the Inca people did not use [[wheel]]ed transport - traffic was limited to [[pedestrian]]s and [[livestock]]. These bridges were an important part on the [[Inca road system]] and are an excellent example of Inca [[:wikt:innovation|innovation]] in engineering. They were frequently used by runners delivering messages throughout the Incan empire. == Other websites == *[http://www.rutahsa.com/k-chaca.html The Last Inca Suspension Bridge: A Photo Album] (various images of amazing Inca Bridges and pathways, old and new.) *[http://www.bu.edu/bridge/archive/2003/03-21/bridge.html Boston University, Inca Bridge to the past] This bridge was also in use of crossing when they were at war. ==References== * ''Incas: Lords of Gold and Glory'', 1992, Virginia: Time-Life Books. *Finch, Ric, 2002, ''Keshwa Chaca: Straw Bridge of the Incas'': Ithaca, N.Y., South American Explorer, n. 69, fall/winter 2002, p. 6-13. Copies of this issue may still be available for purchase from the South American Explorer. *Gade, D.W., 1972, ''Bridge types in the central Andes'': Annals of the Association of American Geographers, v. 62 (1), p. 94-109. [Shows the bridge at Huinchiri and predicts the art of building it will be lost within another generation; fortunately, this prediction has proven untrue, and ethnic/adventure tourism may help save this bridge for posterity.] *Malaga Miglio, Patricia, and Gutierrez, Alberto, (pub. date unknown), ''Qishwachaca'': Rumbos (magazine published in Peru), p. 30-34. *McIntyre, Loren, 1973, ''The Lost Empire of the Incas'': National Geographic Magazine, v. 144, n. 6, p. 729-787. *McIntyre, Loren, 1975, ''The Incredible Incas and Their Timeless Land'': Washington D.C., National Geographic Society, 199 p. *Roca Basadre, David and Coaguila, Jorge, eds., 2001, ''Cañon delApurimac, La Ruta Sagrada