stilt house

City of Yawnghwe in the Inle Lake, Myanmar

Stilt houses (also known as pile or lake dwellings) are structures elevated on stilts above the ground or water body. They are primarily built to protect against flooding; and to keep out vermin. The shaded area beneath the house is often used for work or storage. Such dwellings are common across Southeast Asia, Oceania, Central America, the Caribbean, parts of coastal West Africa, northern parts of South America, the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.