binding them together with metal belts. The main wooden parts of the bridge were covered by sheets of copper for additional durability. Flood protection The shape and weight of the bridge made it extremely strong at the top, but incredibly weak from underneath. To address concern that flood waters rushing along the river would destroy the bridge in its entirety, the bridge was designed so that the wooden pathway merely "floats" on top of its frame using mortise and tenon joints. This allowed rising flood waters to lift out the wooden pathway and carry it off down stream while sparing the main structure. References External links Kintai Bridge on bridge-info.org Iwakuni Tourism (Japanese) Pictures of Kintai-kyo (Japanese) Iwakuni Kankou.com (Japanese) Places of Scenic Beauty Bridges in Japan Tourist attractions in Yamaguchi Prefecture Buildings and structures in Yamaguchi Prefecture Roads in Yamaguchi Prefecture Toll bridges in Japan