1. The most important bridges on Earth have nothing to do with engineers and masons: Through the ages, land bridges have allowed species to reach new territories. Some are better known than others. Ever heard of the Thulean Route?
2. Also known as the North American Land Bridge (NALB), the volcanic Thulean plateau arose around 56 million years ago. It stretched from Greenland to the British Isles, connecting North America with Eurasia.
3. While we often think of land bridges as animal migration highways, they also help plants disperse. A 2013 study found the NALB allowed hickory, native to northeastern North America, to spread to Europe and Asia.
