Stilts

In flood plains, and on beaches or unstable ground, buildings are often constructed on stilts to protect them from damage by water, waves or shifting soil or sand.

Drywall stilts are adjustable tools designed for elevating users to reach high ceilings and walls, eliminating the need for frequent ladder or bench climbing and thereby reducing task completion times.

They are widely utilized by tradespeople in drywall installation, electrical work, insulation, acoustics, painting, and other construction tasks.

Constructed from lightweight yet robust materials like aluminum or magnesium, these stilts include features such as padded calf braces, secure straps at calves, ankles, and toes, dual-action springs for balance, and non-slip soles for stability and comfort.

[citation needed] In Armenia, Urartian bronze belts dating from the 9th to 7th centuries BCE have been found depicting acrobats on stilts.

[12] The inhabitants of marshy or flooded areas sometimes use stilts for practical purposes, such as working in swamps[citation needed] or fording swollen rivers.

The shepherds of the Landes region of southern France used to watch their flocks while standing on stilts to extend their field of vision, while townspeople often used them to traverse the soggy ground in their everyday activities.

[13] Stilts can be used as a prop in entertainment, as a tool to enable other types of work to be achieved and as part of a hobby or recreation.

The local festivals of Anguiano (La Rioja, Spain) feature a dance on stilts in which dancers go down a stepped street while turning.

Other stilt walking and dancing festivals are held in Deventer, Netherlands, in early July each year, and in Namur, Belgium.

Aluminium stilts are commonly used by fruit farmers in California to prune and harvest their peach, plum, and apricot trees.

Stilts are used during drywall construction, finish painting, and hanging suspended ceiling tiles as means to reach high areas.

[18] On 30 March 2008 Ashrita Furman of the US ran 1.61 km (1 mi) in 7 minutes 13 seconds on spring stilts in Dachau, Germany.