Landmark
From Free net encyclopedia
- For other senses of this word, see landmark (disambiguation).
Originally, a landmark literally meant a geographic feature used by explorers and others to find their way back or through an area. In modern usage, it is anything that is easily recognisable, such as a monument, building or other structure. In American English it is the main term used to designate places that might be of interest to tourists, whereas in British English it tends to be reserved for identifying structures visible or significant due to size or history. A synonym to the American English usage would be "visitor attraction".
Landmarks in the British English sense are often used for casual navigation, such as giving directions. This is done in American English as well. Examples of landmarks include the Taj Mahal in Agra, Eiffel Tower in Paris, Big Ben in London, Mount Fuji in Japan, Stone Mountain near Atlanta, CN Tower in Toronto, Kremlin in Moscow and Sydney Opera House in Sydney.
A variant is a seamark or daymark, a structure usually built intentionally to aid sailors navigating featureless coasts. An example is the tower at Walton-on-the-Naze.