Read the excerpt from "Everest Then and Now."

First of all, it is the highest mountain on Earth. In 1979, the area surrounding Everest was designated as a natural world heritage site. It sits on the border between Nepal and Tibet, which is a region of China.

What is the meaning of the word designated as it is used in the excerpt?

A. Assigned or appointed
B. Designed or reshaped
C. Featured or highlighted
D. Joined or linked