How Manholes Are Made (It’s Not What You’d Think)

I’ve recently become fascinated by the artistry that goes into objects that I interact with on a daily basis but normally consider too quotidian to think about. And manhole covers definitely fall into that category.  They’re an essential part of any city’s infrastructure and their design and manufacture isn’t something that should be overlooked. And now, thanks to this National Geographic short, you can pull back the curtain and see how the majority of manhole covers in the US are made… in India.    

It’s shocking to see such an icon of modern American infrastructure created in such antique methods in a world that feels like it stands at such a remove from our own. Nevertheless it’s a fascinating two minutes from filmmaker Natasha Raheja’s documentary, Cast in India.