The landmark is a distinctive object that marks a particular place, usually one that is associated with a certain time or a period in history. It is often a building or other prominent distinctive structure, but can also be an archaeological feature or a natural landscape characteristic, such as a mountain, a lake or a cave.
The term “landmark” is derived from the English word landmearc, meaning “a boundary mark,” and was used in ancient times to describe fixed structures or objects set up to mark the boundaries of kingdoms, estates, or other pieces of land. This definition changed in the sixteenth century when it was regarded as more general to include any distinctive or conspicuous object on land.
In the modern sense, a landmark is a distinctive object that has historical significance and/or is marked by a government for preservation or other purposes. They are generally large and impressive, and can be man-made or natural.
They can be important cultural, historical or religious symbols of a country, city or region. Some are even famous worldwide, such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Statue of Liberty in New York City.
Many landmarks are protected by governments as world heritage sites, or are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Some landmarks are famous for being big and impressive, while others are incredibly old or mysterious. They can be mountains, lakes, deserts or rock formations that attract many visitors.
Other landmarks can be very old structures, like the remains of cities or ancient civilizations. Some landmarks are so incredibly large and impressive that they have been designated as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations.
Sometimes landmarks are so big that they can be seen from a great distance. For example, the Eiffel Tower is so large that it can be seen from a long way away.
They can be built with clever engineering, or they might be very old, for instance a temple or cathedral that is thousands of years old. Other landmarks are beautiful and incredibly big, such as mountains or lakes.
Some landmarks are made from wood, brick or stone, while others might be made of metal. They are all different and each has its own unique history, but they all have the same purpose: to mark a place or time in history.
The most famous landmarks are monuments, but there are plenty of other types of built and natural landmarks.
In the US, there are a number of state and local landmarks that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and there are many more in other countries. These landmarks are important to the people who live in them, and their loss would be devastating.
When landmarks are lost, it can be difficult to find them again, and they may be damaged or destroyed. This is why people often want to preserve them and protect them from damage.
In 1965, the New York City government passed a law called the Landmarks Law to protect historical buildings and other sites that are significant to the history of the city. The law also created the Landmarks Preservation Commission, which is authorized to designate landmarks.