# Iconic picture of a country. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 7, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-picture-of-a-country/535335 "2010-04-07T21:38:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-picture-of-a-country/535335/1 "2010-04-07T21:38:35Z")
Reading internet news , you get used to the iconic stock pictures that they throw in articles to correspond to a story about a country. I was thinking about the most iconic picture you can take of various countries that directly brings that country to mind in a fraction of a second. Things that are landscapey type pictures, with no people. But distinctive from other things in other countries. Kind of general of populous or powerful countries so far Here is my list so far. Very Easy ones: U.S. Statue of liberty. Several other options, Capitol, White House, but lady Liberty is the top one I think. France: Eiffel tower[stupid spellchecker changed it to Elfie tower] Brazil: Big ass Jesus statue. Japan. Mt Fuji Russia. Red square/St. Basil’s/Kremlin India: Taj Mahal Holland: generic windmill with tulips. Australia: Sydney Oprah house with bridge. Egypt. Sphinx and pyramid. Still Easy but a little harder. England: Big Ben and Parliament.(a bit ahead of the other contenders) Canada: CN tower Switerland: Matterhorn Harder to choose the one. Italy: Colosseum, leaning tower, canal in Venice, Vatican(I know its a different country, but still) no clear winner. Pretty hard to choose Scotland: I guess the stone bridge at St. Andrews, but more than a fraction of a second to recognize for me. Indonesia: Monas I guess, but lots of other temples maybe instead. Israel: again lots but I have to put the wailing wall a bit ahead. Can’t think of a winner: Germany. Maybe Brandenberg Gate? Neuschwanstein is certainly iconic, but it doesn’t make me think “Germany” it makes me think “medieval castle”. The" Arbeit Mach Frei" sign is iconic too, but is related to whole other things. Spain: surprisingly Nothing pops to mind as quick as I want. Ireland: again nothing quick enough. Mexico: Man this one surprised me, but the only picture I can think of that immediately says Mexico, is the Alamo:smack: Any additions or changes you would make? ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-picture-of-a-country/535335/2 "2010-04-07T21:48:33Z")
Ireland - Blarney Stone, maybe? Generic uber-green grass with sheep/shepherd? Cliffs of Moher? Spain - The Alhambra? Bullfighting arena? Germany - Neuschwanstein would be my first urge. ---
**Author:** ![Chickie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chickie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chickie)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-picture-of-a-country/535335/3 "2010-04-07T21:59:50Z")
Italy - guy piloting a Gondola. ETA: Whoops, re-read the OP and realized you specified no people. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-picture-of-a-country/535335/4 "2010-04-07T22:04:32Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Australia: Sydney Oprah house with bridge. I didn’t realize she had a place over there. Is that the one where they had to keep widening the bridge? [This](http://www.welcometothepond.com/American%20Symbols%20WebQuest/mountrushmore.jpg) is as iconic a photo of America as exists. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-picture-of-a-country/535335/5 "2010-04-07T22:11:32Z")
Stupid spell checker :smack: ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-picture-of-a-country/535335/6 "2010-04-07T22:47:49Z")
Spain could be the Puerta de Alcalá in Madrid . . . or my personal favorite: Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-picture-of-a-country/535335/7 "2010-04-07T23:09:52Z")
Greece: Parthenon ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-picture-of-a-country/535335/8 "2010-04-08T00:35:32Z")
Denmark: The Little Mermaid China: The Great Wall Scotland: Edinburgh Castle ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-picture-of-a-country/535335/9 "2010-04-08T00:41:10Z")
I’d go with [Chichén Itzá](http://www.turismocancun.com.ar/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Chich%C3%A9n-Itz%C3%A1.jpg) for Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-picture-of-a-country/535335/10 "2010-04-08T00:49:43Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > Ireland - Blarney Stone, maybe? Generic uber-green grass with sheep/shepherd? Cliffs of Moher? Ireland, donkey in a field with a stone wall. (For Dublin, Ha’penny Bridge, the Spire or Molly Malone Statue) ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-picture-of-a-country/535335/11 "2010-04-08T02:06:18Z")
China - Forbidden City USA - Old Faithful - Redwoods - Golden Gate bridge - Empire State Building - Devils Tower Scotland - A [Broch](http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/info/History/GlenelgBrochs) ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-picture-of-a-country/535335/12 "2010-04-08T02:42:44Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Canada: CN tower Is this really iconic? If I saw a picture of it, I’d be wondering if it’s the CN Tower or the Space Needle or any other number of similar structures. > [@Morbo](#): > > I’d go with [Chichén Itzá](http://www.turismocancun.com.ar/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Chich%C3%A9n-Itz%C3%A1.jpg) for Mexico. That’s what I would go with. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-picture-of-a-country/535335/13 "2010-04-08T03:44:24Z")
Panama: The Canal ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-picture-of-a-country/535335/14 "2010-04-08T03:56:17Z")
Donkey ??? ---
**Author:** ![kenner116](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@kenner116](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenner116)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-picture-of-a-country/535335/15 "2010-04-08T03:56:53Z")
Singapore: [Merlion](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Singapore_Merlion_BCT.jpg) Cambodia: [Angkor Wat](http://randomknowledge.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/800px-angkor_wat_w-seite.jpg) Malaysia: [Petronas Towers](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/28/KLCC-night_tree.jpg) Mongolia: [Yurt](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Gurvger.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-picture-of-a-country/535335/16 "2010-04-08T04:01:13Z")
For Canada I’d have to go with the gorgeous [Horseshoe Falls](http://www.nflibrary.ca/Portals/0/HorseshoeFalls.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-picture-of-a-country/535335/17 "2010-04-08T04:06:41Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > For Canada I’d have to go with the gorgeous [Horseshoe Falls](http://www.nflibrary.ca/Portals/0/HorseshoeFalls.jpg). I wouldn’t use it as the picture could easily mean USA. I considered Niagara Falls for the USA. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-picture-of-a-country/535335/18 "2010-04-08T04:11:40Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > I wouldn’t use it as the picture could easily mean USA. I considered Niagara Falls for the USA. If I’m remembering correctly (it’s been a few years since I’ve been there), the Horseshoe Falls are 100% on the Canadian side while the Bridal Veil Falls are on the American side and also called The American Falls. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-picture-of-a-country/535335/19 "2010-04-08T07:43:28Z")
For Canada I would have gone with the Parliament buildings, but of course I’m from the Ottawa region. ---
**Author:** ![SecTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SecTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecTech)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2010, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-picture-of-a-country/535335/20 "2010-04-08T08:21:55Z")
Turkey: [http://www.traveljournals.net/pictures/26461.html](http://www.traveljournals.net/pictures/26461.html) or [http://www.barber.org.uk/coins/537.html](http://www.barber.org.uk/coins/537.html) Jordan: [http://www.travelpod.com/travel-photo/elfstone/sabbatical/1168643880/dsc06300.jpg/tpod.html](http://www.travelpod.com/travel-photo/elfstone/sabbatical/1168643880/dsc06300.jpg/tpod.html) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-picture-of-a-country/535335.md?page=2)