With the dead far outnumbering the living, its no surprising that space at cemeteries has become premium.
Many European countries have been reusing graves for centuries.
A cemetery in Hong Kong built on a terraced hill.
Some graveyards would even inject coffins with a solution of limestone to accelerate decomposition.
Norway isnt alone in this.
So many countries are looking towards the sky rather than towards the ground for a solution to their problem.
Asia is currently leading the trend in vertical cemeteries.
In many Asian cultures, theres already a tradition of burying the dead in multi-storey pagodas.
In Hong Kong, cemeteries are often built onhill slopesto save space.
The Pok Fu Lam Cemetery in Hong Kong.
Photo credit:Wendy/Flickr
A stacked cemetery in Manila, Philippines.
Photo credit:Wayne S. Grazio/Flickr
A true vertical cemetery is the Memorial Necropole Ecumenica in Santos, Brazil.
As of now, its 32 stories high and has space to house the the remains of 25,000 people.
Each floor contains 150 tombs equipped with a sophisticated ventilation system and can accommodate up to six bodies.
The building is surrounded by beautiful gardens, a woodland, a lagoon and a waterfall.
Memorial Necropole Ecumenica in Santos, Brazil.
Photo credit:www.memorialsantos.com.br
Memorial Necropole Ecumenica in Santos, Brazil.
Currently undergoing construction in Mumbai is another vertical cemetery.
