Originally known to the locals as Sohra, Cherrapunji is renowned as the wettest place on Earth because of the high amount of rainfall it gets. The name of the town stands for "the abode of clouds." Despite the perennial rain, the residents face an acute water shortage. They have to often trek for miles to obtain suitable water to drink. In addition, the rain washes away the topsoil and hampers irrigation. Cherrapunji receives 450 inches of annual rainfall, sometimes measured in feet. Monsoon clouds fly unhindered from the Bay of Bengal and strike the hills in the valley of Cherrapunji. These result in the rain. The residents of Cherrapunji grow natural bridges from the roots of a rubber tree. They use betel-tree trunks, sliced down in the middle and hollowed out, to create "root-guidance systems." These structures reach the other side of the river, take root in the soil, and give shape to a strong living bridge. The root bridges are sometimes over a hundred feet long, and they take 10 to 15 years to become fully functional. These can support the weight of 50 or more people at once. Also, continuous waterfalls and mysterious caves adorn this lush, green town.

What is ironic about the town of Cherrapunji?