In honor of these achievements, we present 12 stunning bridges from around the globe which are both wonders of design and icons of the creative spirit. And, perhaps best of all, they're of invaluable use.
See pictures of some of the world's most impressive bridges here and vote for your favorites. We tried to shy away from picking such instantly recognizable ones as, say, the Brooklyn Bridge, but let us know if we overlooked some true gems.
Millau Viaduct -- France
Gateshead Millennium Bridge -- England
Hangzhou Bay Bridge -- China
Bosphorous Bridge -- Turkey
Coronado Bridge -- U.S.A.
Confederation Bridge -- Canada
Sunniberg Bridge -- Switzerland
Khaju Bridge -- Iran
Helix Bridge -- Singapore
"Golden Horn" Bridge -- Norway
Alamillo Bridge -- Spain
Banpo Bridge -- South Korea