Lookout point

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The North Cape

A vantage point is an excellent point in the area, a hilltop , a free-standing rock or other topographical object , or then a structure such as a tower or a high-rise from which a free panoramic view or a sectoral view of the surrounding landscape is possible. Lookout points ( observation towers or platforms ) offer a distant view at many places with great views .

Good vantage points generally have a low landscape horizon, so a "wide sky". The visibility depends on the weather conditions and also on the local air pollution . The maximum visibility depends on the height of the lookout point and is limited by lighting , weather conditions , haze and obstacles.

On the concept of the viewpoint

Such places in the landscape, from which a good view of the far or near surroundings is possible, have been found in painting and travel literature since the Romantic era . What the landscape painter used to show, and later the postcard , is now mass photography from the vantage point as a holiday souvenir or to post on social media platforms, especially as a selfie , even if it is only to prove that you “were there”.

References to good vantage points continue to be part of the basic content of travel literature as well as travel and leisure maps . The location in maps with special map symbols for tourist development is followed by the signage of access routes to the popular lookout points.

Particularly good vantage points on mountain peaks or towers offer an unrestricted panoramic view of the whole area. Others, because of the topography or vegetation, only allow a view of a selected section of the landscape, a particularly spectacular location such as a waterfall or a district.

The view of the near and distant landscape sections, towns, hills and mountains is often explained by a panorama board (in Switzerland: Alpenzeiger ). Visual aids such as telescopes support the view of details of the landscape.

In touristic areas, many viewpoints are equipped with various service facilities such as parking lots , stops , restaurants , souvenir shops , playgrounds and benches . Sometimes access to a lookout point and especially to an observation tower is only possible against payment of an entrance fee or to the terrace of an observation restaurant only with consumption.

Distinctive terrain points are also used to survey the country and, if necessary, are provided with firmly anchored fixed points and signals that are visible from a distance.

The point de vue , the conspicuous object in a park landscape, must be distinguished from the lookout point .

A lookout point set up as part of tactical military reconnaissance is called an observation post.

  • Telescope on the Loreley viewing platform

  • Information sign to a lookout point

  • Viewpoint near Meersburg

  • Donauturm , Vienna , with viewing platform and revolving restaurant

  • View from the Drachenfels to Bonn

  • Cliff Walk suspension bridge to the viewpoint on Mount Titlis

Examples of terrestrial lookout points

Examples of lookout points on buildings

See also

Web links

Wiktionary: Viewpoint  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations
Commons : Scenic overlooks  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ While beautiful landscape was still set according to aesthetic criteria up until the Romantic era, the naturalists actually looked for special, special vantage points (this applies to European landscape painting as well as to Chinese painting ); some of these points made the painters themselves famous.