Legendary US landmark falls down

The US state of New Hampshire is mourning the loss of its most famous landmark - a mountainside formation shaped like a face.

The renowned Old Man of the Mountain - a natural stone profile resembling the features of an old man - has collapsed into a pile of rubble.

The ancient edifice was considered New Hampshire's state symbol and appeared on countless souvenirs and even the state's quarter coin.

Police said the Old Man likely succumbed to the forces of nature.

The landmark, which was situated in New Hampshire's White Mountains, was reported missing by workers on Saturday.

It's a sad feeling of emptiness

Richard McLeod, state parks director

"It's a strange and unreal feeling that something that has been there all your life is gone," said Amy Cyrs, one of the first people to notice it had disappeared.

The 40-foot-high (12-metre) profile, which was made out of five granite ledges, was created by geological changes that began 200 million years ago

The image was immortalised in Nathaniel Hawthorne's story "The Great Stone Face", read by generations of US schoolchildren.

The feature helped draw hundreds of thousands of tourists to the area every year and was one of the most photographed sites in the state.

"This is a symbol of our state. It's a sad feeling of emptiness," said Richard McLeod, director of state parks.

Now a giant mountainside scar is all that remains of the Old Man.