Trees of Iriomote

I heart trees. "Big Buttress Tree" is Okinawa's official name for the type of tree in the first photo here. The trees in the second photo are mangroves (go read about mangroves on wikipedia if you're shaky on them, mangrove trees are yet again awesome evidence that evolution is HOT). Iriomote is a magnificent island for trees with rockin' ROOTS, isn't it?

More proof that no one beats the Yaeyamas for roots:


This second to last picture is clearly an Ent who emigrated from Middle Earth to avoid certain death... and well he did. He's probably the last. The final picture is intertwining roots from trees on either side of a pathway, meeting to form an arch. I have no idea how they did it. Props to you, little rooties. Survival is ON in the Yaeyamas.