This is a view of the coast of the Galle region, southwest of Sri Lanka.
It is not a tree that stands several on the surface of the sea.
They are "stilts" used by fishermen when fishing.
The stilts are not meant to be ridden by foot, but rather to be used by fishermen to sit on while waiting for fish to bite the bait with their fishing rods hanging down.
This "stilt fishing," which does not use boats or nets, appears to be a traditional method of fishing, but it has taken root more recently than one might think. According to one theory, it began during World War II, when the region was in dire need of food, and one fisherman, avoiding the crowded beaches, began fishing directly at sea on his "stilts" to avoid the crowds of fishermen.
Today, this culture seems to be slowly dying out, but it remains a popular spot among tourists.
Learn more about fishing issues → "Tragedy on the High Seas of Southeast Asia: The Maritime Slavery Problem Behind the Shrimp
Learn more about Sri Lanka →.Changing Sri Lanka: The Conflict and Beyond.
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(Photo: Melinda Nagy/Shutterstock.com)