Traditional Torajan Houses

Houses with boat-shaped houses, typical of the Toraja region of the island of Sulawesi.

[Kathy]

Is there a reason the roofs are shaped that way?

[william wooderson]

@randystreat This type of house is called a "tongkonan". There are several theories, but according to one legend, the Toraja people originally came from the north and their boats were destroyed in a terrible storm; they settled in the area and used their damaged boats as the roofs of their houses!