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Dive into Manhood with Villagers from Pentecost Island
The villagers of Pentecost Island, Vanuatu, have been taking part in a fertility tradition known as land diving for centuries. Men and boys jump 66 to 98 feet high with vines tied around their feet. Divers can reach speeds of 45 miles per hour during their jumps.
This tradition is taken seriously. Men begin by anointing themselves with oil, and both genders wear traditional clothing the day of. The dive is a right of passage for boys turning into men, though it is now also a tourist attraction.
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