Sunset in one of the longest piers in the world

photos taken with camera phone

The port city of Progreso in the Mexican state of Yucatan boasts the longest pier in the world. Built with reinforced concrete pier jutting into the Gulf of Mexico for a distance of 6.5 kilometers, and looks more like a bridge to a distant land like a spring. The great length of the structure was necessary to allow large ships to dock, since the depth near the coast was not adequate. In the Yucatan, you must take kilometers before the water is deep enough to accommodate cargo ships. Cruise passengers, disembarking at the end of the long pier and then take a shuttle or taxi to the coast and the city.

The dock was originally 2,100 meters long and was built between 1,937 and 1,941, replacing a wooden pier that was built early last century. In 1988, an additional 4,000 meters length was added.

Progreso pier is also the first concrete structure in the world built with reinforced stainless steel containing nickel. Despite the relatively poor quality of concrete used, the spring has resisted the hard marine environment and has been in continuous operation for more than 70 years without any routine maintenance activities or major repairs.