Some of the first pleasure piers were built in Britain during the early 19th century.
Since the early Victorian period, piers have been popular attraction in Britain as well as in North America.
They are places where people gather, have fun or a leisurely walk above the ocean waters.
Many piers are now historic treasures featuring some of the areas oldest architecture and vestiges of the past.
Modern ones feature unusual architecture and artistic design.
Here are some of the most noteworthy and beautiful piers around the world.
The 380-meter pier was built in 1959.
This timber-planked promenade was opened in 1814, and is 681 meters in length.
It is possible to drive along the pier, and there is car parking on the large pier head.
The pier was originally built of wood in 1830, then replaced with a new iron pier in 1889.
It is made of concrete and sticks 350 meters into the North Sea.
Blankenbergse pier was the first pier on the Atlantic coast of the European continent.
The grade II listed pier was opened in 1867.
Currently it is closed to the public and is now listed as an endangered building.
In fact, part of the pier collapsed as recently as 30 December 2015.
The unusually long length is necessary to allow large ships to dock since the Yucatan coast is very shallow.
(Previously featured on Amusing Planet).
Photograph of the Progreso Pier taken from the International Space Station in 2014.
The circular wall faces away from the sea and acts as a shelter, protecting swimmers from the wind.
(Previously featured on Amusing Planet).
It was called one of the most beautiful pier in the world by CNN.
The jetty was built in 1853 so that cut timber could be transported to ships.
The line now carries tourists along the jetty to an underwater observatory which opened to the public in 2003.
It still functions as a landing stage for steamers and is a popular attraction for tourists and anglers.
The pier was demolished last year so that a new one could be built.
The pier features a round concert hall where many famous Italian artists have performed.
It was designed by architect Jose de Jesus Torres Vega and features a beautiful spiraling promenade.
During the 1950s through the 1970s it became the site of a popular dance hall.
Prolonged neglect however caused the pier to be dilapidated and had to be demolished in 1978.
The current pier was rebuilt based on models of the old pier and opened in 1997.
The new pier is 394 meters long.
Photo credit:Raico Bernardino Rosenberg/Flickr
Photo credit:elbfoto/Wikimedia
Photo credit:Jean-Luc/Wikimedia
