Countries around the world have welcomed the start of 2018 with a series of elaborate fireworks displays

Auckland, in New Zealand, was the first major world city to welcome the start of the New Year

Sydney's celebrations featured a rainbow waterfall to celebrate recently-legalised gay marriage

Burj Khalifa in Dubai was illuminated in a world-record breaking lights display instead of fireworks

Moscow's fireworks display by the Kremlin was witnessed by thousands lining up in the Russian capital

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5224423/Countries-world-celebrate-New-Year.html

Brazil: A couple hug each other as they watch fireworks exploding over Copacabana beach during New Year Eve's celebrations in Rio de Janeiro

Carnival: Revellers cooled off in the ocean as they watched a spectacular fireworks display at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Millions had gathered on the beach to watch not just the traditional pyrotechnics, but also singer Anitta, who gained worldwide recognition through her viral video performance of 'Vai Malandra' ('Come on bad girl') in a mini-bikini.

Rio de Janeiro's main party was celebrated with fireworks erupting on Copacabana beach after the clock struck midnight to usher in the new year. After 17 minutes of a multicolored show in the skies, singer Anitta led the party on stage

New Mayor Marcelo Crivella said he believed the celebrations would bring 3 million people to the iconic beach, which would mean nearly half of Rio's population. But locals said Brazil's economic crisis is still impacting one of the city's biggest parties. In 2017, 2 million people showed up at Copacabana beach, a number that hasn't changed much over the years

Almost 2,000 policemen patrolled the Copacabana region after yet another violent year on the streets. Rio's hotel association said occupation is nearly total, but mostly by Brazilian tourists

Cooling off: Two women join revellers in the sea off Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as fireworks explode overhead

Fireworks explode by the Ancient Acropolis in Athens during the New Year celebrations to mark the beginning of 2018. The famous ruins are lit up with a red tinge as the fireworks explode

The ancient Greek temple of the Parthenon atop Athens' Acropolis hill was in the shadow of fireworks during New Year celebrations in Greece

Greece saw in the New Year at 23:00 GMT

The Quadriga sculpture atop the Brandenburg gate was illuminated by the fireworks display in the German capital of Berlin for New Year's Eve

Germany@ The New City Hall in the northern German city of Hanover is illuminated by fireworks to usher in the New Year

Holland: There was a spectacular fireworks display as large crowds came out to celebrate the New Year at the Binnenhof in The Hague

Belgium: The Atomium Monument in Brussels is lit up with a backdrop of fireworks at 23:00 GMT for its New Year's Eve

Who fireworks help?

France: Images were projected onto the Arc de Triomphe monument as fireworks explode during a laser and 3D video mapping show as part of the New Year celebrations in Paris

Thousands of New Year revellers line the streets along the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris ahead of the display in the French capital

London's iconic Big Ben chimed to mark the turn of the New Year, despite being in the process of serious renovation work which has kept it out of action for several months

Fireworks explode around the London Eye during New Year's celebrations in central London just after midnight on January 1

America: Fireworks erupt as the clock strikes midnight during the New Year's celebration in Times Square, New York

Thousands braved the second coldest New Year's Eve ever as temperatures to watch the glittering ball drop in Times Square

The clock of Puerta del Sol (Gate of the Sun) welcomes the New Year in a celebration that gathered thousands of people in the popular square, which this year and for the second time is accompanied by a firework display, streamers and confetti in the colors of the Community of Madrid

Spain: The clock of Puerta del Sol (Gate of the Sun) welcomes the New Year in a celebration that gathered thousands of people in Madrid

Spain: Partygoers take to the streets of Madrid to welcome in the New Year in style, wearing tinsel wigs and fake glasses for part of the fun

Malta: The capital city of Valletta held its own fireworks display, with crackers going off over the ancient city

Austria: Fireworks explode around Familienkirche church during New Year celebrations in Vienna

Lithuania: Cathedral Square in Vilnius was lit up by a stunning fireworks to mark the turn of the year last night as thousands watched on

Dubai ushered in the New Year although it did not opt for the conventional fireworks display due to 'security reasons', instead opting for an impressive world-record breaking laser show

The world's tallest building was emblazoned with the 'Year of Zayed', who was the former president of the United Arab Emirates. He held onto the post for 33 years and passed away in 2004

The spectacular lights show was choreographed by more than 300 experts

Russia: Thousands gathered on the streets of Moscow for the fireworks display which lit up the sky near to the Kremlin and other famous buildings

Fireworks light the sky over the Bolshoy Kamenny bridge where Red Square and Kremlin Palace are seen on background during the New Year's celebrations in Moscow