Ainaži Northern Pier Add an Object
Ainaži Northern Pier
Today, only a half-kilometer stretch of the Northern Pier in Ainaži has survived, consisting of large boulders. The remains of the pier are also visible as large stone islands further out at sea. Nearby are coastal meadows rich in various bird species, and the Northern Pier itself is one of the few places where birdwatching at sea is possible. Historical sources tell that in 1911, the Valmiera narrow-gauge railway company developed a project to connect the northern end of the Ainaži port breakwater to the shore. The main purpose of the project was to create a railway branch from Ainaži station to the breakwater. It was planned to build a dam - a pier that would better protect the port basin from northern winds than the existing natural northern bank. The construction of the dam began in 1912, with a length of 361 meters along the coast and 482 meters in the bay. A railway track was laid on the dam.
The construction works were interrupted by World War I.
In 1915, the military authorities ordered the removal and transportation of the tracks from the dam. During the war, the temporary pier at the end of the dam was also destroyed, and two large boulders were blown up. 78% of the above-water part of the breakwater was completely destroyed, and the remaining part was severely damaged. Although restoration work took place in Ainaži port after World War I, the previous bustling activity there gradually subsided.
Categories:
Historical places;
Location on the map
Location:
Address: Ainaži
