Why tropical hardwood?
Several species of tropical hardwood, like the Greenheart which is currently used, have exceptional strength and resistance to wear and decay. They can last as long as 35 years in the harsh high-traffic environment of the Promenade – roughly three times longer than local (even chemically-treated) soft wood. Greenheart, for example, is so hard that it cannot be worked with standard tools (read more about the natural properties of Greenheart). Other tropical hardwoods like Cumaru, Massaranduba and Ekki, are almost as strong as Greenheart, and all of these are more durable than European Oak or American White Oak.
