Is it really possible to define which are the most famous landmarks in the world? It all depends on your definition of famous.
Some people would say that the most famous landmark is the one that is in their home country, while others may judge it by the amount of people who visit it annually.
So it really all depends on what the word “famous” means to you. For example, for Europeans landmarks such as Buckingham Palace or the Eiffel Tower would be considered to be the most famous landmarks. Whereas in North America, The Statue of Liberty or Niagara Falls would be better known.
Did you know that originally a landmark literally meant a geographic feature used by explorers and others to find their way back or through an area?
A good example of this is the famous Table Mountain landmark near Cape Town in South Africa which sailors used to help them to navigate around the southern tip of Africa during the Age of Exploration.
These days, landmarks are generally associated with man-made structures and sometimes those which were historically built near coastlines to assist sailors with navigation.
Today, landmarks around the world attract thousands, if not millions, of visitors every year and there certainly is no shortage of debate when it comes to which landmarks are the most famous.
So here is the Lifedaily most 5 famous landmarks list; see if you agree:
1. Big Ben
In actual fact, Big Ben is the nickname of the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, England. The clock tower itself holds the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world and is the third-tallest free-standing clock tower ever built.
2. The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower (French: La Tour Eiffel, [tuʁ ɛfɛl]) is an iron lattice tower situated on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France. The tower is the tallest structure in Paris and the most-visited paid monument in the world.
3. The Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a massive neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in the middle of New York Harbor, in Manhattan, New York City. The statue is an icon of freedom and of the United States and is a welcoming signal to immigrants arriving from abroad.
4. The Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal, which translated into English means “crown of palaces”, is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. The Taj Mahal is regarded by many as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines many different and unique elements from Islamic, Persian and Indian architectural styles.
5. The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is the longest wall in the world and consists of a series of fortifications made from stone, brick, wood, and other materials. Although having been through many trials and tribulations, the Great Wall has frequently been rebuilt, maintained, and enhanced, with the majority of the existing wall dating back to the Ming Dynasty era.
How many of these famous landmarks have you visited in your life?
Do you agree that these five famous landmarks are indeed the most famous, or not?
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