Incredible Piers and Jetties

If you've ever been to the coast there's a good chance you'll have come face to face with either a jetty or pier, both of which are man-made structures that extend from the shore out into the water. Generally (there are exceptions) a jetty is made of stone and rests on the bottom of the water's bed so as to restrict its flow, in turn either protecting the harbour or providing a dock for ships. Piers, on the other hand, are usually pile-supported decks, generally used as walkways for pedestrians, fishermen and researchers. Usage aside, both jetties and piers are visually charming structures which add a certain amount of character to beaches and harbours around the World, in some places serving as major tourist attractions in their own right.

"Busselton Jetty, Busselton, Australia"

Measuring a whopping 1.84km, the 140 year old jetty in Busselton is (so they say) the longest wooden jetty in the southern hemisphere. This mammoth structure - which is also home to an underwater observatory - was built to enable the loading and unloading of ships which couldn't get close to the shore due to its shallow waters. Since then the jetty has been extended on numerous occasions. LINK