Stone Nambanga - Pentecost Island

These photos document a puzzling and - as far as I can tell - unique phenomenon. A nambanga (banyan) tree growing near the shore in Waterfall village in central Pentecost island has its entire root system filled with stones ranging in size from small pebbles to 20 cm or more. At first I thought this was the work of local children playfully sticking stones into the gaps between the many hanging roots, but it quickly became clear that this was not the case. It seems that the tree's habit of grabbing onto whatever's nearest has, in this particular locale, resulted in a tree that hoards stones and pebbles.

October, 2007

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Imagicity | Photography - exotica, mundanity and wonders | © Dan McGarry