Strangling Trees of Angkor Wat - Great Attractions (Cambodia)

Take a tour of Strangling Trees of Angkor Wat in Cambodia – part of the World’s Greatest Attractions series by GeoBeats. Within the ruins of Angkor Wat is an organism that has taken over entire buildings. Though it sounds like a science fiction movie, it is infact true. This ancient part of Cambodian temple is completely overgrown by giant banyan or strangler fig trees. Though other nearby temples have been cleared of the trees, archaeologists have left these temples as an example. The fig trees' roots have grown around, over, under, and through this temple. At places, the roots are so rampant that they are the only thing holding the building up. In this way, it has become a singular combination of nature and artifice. Though the banyans may ultimately destroy the temple, they currently make it a wonderful place.