Coming from the Sanskrit varanda, which can be translated as “barrier”, the term railing refers to a fence or other similar element that acts as an edge of something and serves as a containment.
Guardrails – also called railings – provide protection on structures such as stairs, balconies, decks, and bridges. These objects, which are usually made of bronze, iron or wood, are installed on the perimeter of the structures, at a constant height. In this way people can lean on them or support themselves.
For example: “Be very careful that the balcony railing is broken”, “With the help of the railing and a lot of effort, the old man managed to climb the five flights of stairs”, “Do not worry, the railing guarantees that children and animals cannot fall off the terrace ”.
We can find stair railings that allow people to lean on them when going up and down. In these cases the notion of railing is equivalent to the idea of handrails.
Although this meaning is not commonly used in everyday speech, pool tables also have railings; in this case, it is the edge of the same, which is made of rubber. Another term for this fence to prevent billiard balls from falling to the ground or flying off the playing surface is league. To ensure adequate resistance, these rails must be reinforced taking into account the force that professional players put into their movements.
According to DigoPaul, other railings are those that ensure a high surface, minimizing the risk of accidents. With a properly sized and properly installed railing, it is nearly impossible for an adult individual to fall off a balcony or deck accidentally. These railings act as barriers, similar to a small wall.
In some cases, the railing is constructed for the purpose of giving a particular finish to certain parts of a building rather than focusing on the safety of the inhabitants. Since it can be made of a large number of different materials, such as wood or iron, in a myriad of different shapes and colors, the railing can be suitable to add variety to the facade of a building and reinforce the idea of ”private property”.
Baranda is also the name of two towns in Spain. One of them is a small town located in the municipality of Escalante (at a distance of 2 kilometers from its municipal capital), in the autonomous community of Cantabria, which had a population of only seventy-three inhabitants until 2008 according to indicated the National Institute of Statistics of Spain (INE). The Cantabrian town of Baranda is 15 meters above sea level.
In Burgos, a province of the autonomous community of Castilla y León, there is also a town called Baranda de Montija or Baranda. It is located on the Mediterranean side of Burgos and can be accessed through the BU-629 road that connects Villarcayo with Bercedo.
To the north of Baranda de Montija is Villalázara; to the South, Gayangos; to the West, Bedón de la Merindad de Sotoscueva; to the East, Bárcena de Pienza. Its climate is very pleasant, with a good percentage of winds throughout the year and bodies of sulphurous water with a considerable wealth of minerals.
Just as the Baranda town located in Cantabria, Burgos has a very small population: until 2007, the number of inhabitants amounted to only thirty-four. As is customary in Spanish towns, in Baranda de Montija we can find a parish church.
