2013-05-31

Pamukkale - Turkey (UNESCO WHS)


© Yokusu ?

Unused, sent by "Sapic12"

"Deriving from springs in a cliff almost 200 m high overlooking the plain, calcite-laden waters have created at Pamukkale (Cotton Palace) an unreal landscape, made up of mineral forests, petrified waterfalls and a series of terraced basins. At the end of the 2nd century B.C. the dynasty of the Attalids, the kings of Pergamon, established the thermal spa of Hierapolis. The ruins of the baths, temples and other Greek monuments can be seen at the site." In: UNESCO

2013-05-30

Fujian Tulou - China (UNESCO WHS)


© China National Publications

RR PTxWorld G33, sent by "melowalk"



?

RR PTxWorld G34, sent bu VivianY


"Fujian Tulou is a property of 46 buildings constructed between the 15th and 20th centuries over 120 km in south-west of Fujian province, inland from the Taiwan Strait. Set amongst rice, tea and tobacco fields the Tulou are earthen houses. Several storeys high, they are built along an inward-looking, circular or square floor plan as housing for up to 800 people each. They were built for defence purposes around a central open courtyard with only one entrance and windows to the outside only above the first floor. Housing a whole clan, the houses functioned as village units and were known as “a little kingdom for the family” or “bustling small city.” They feature tall fortified mud walls capped by tiled roofs with wide over-hanging eaves. The most elaborate structures date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. The buildings were divided vertically between families with each disposing of two or three rooms on each floor. In contrast with their plain exterior, the inside of the tulou were built for comfort and were often highly decorated. They are inscribed as exceptional examples of a building tradition and function exemplifying a particular type of communal living and defensive organization, and, in terms of their harmonious relationship with their environment, an outstanding example of human settlement." In: UNESCO

2013-05-29

Brimstone Hill Fortress, Saint Kitts - Saint Kitts and Nevis (UNESCO WHS)


© KiMagic Photo & Design

Unused, sent by "andreaeiko"

"Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park is an outstanding, well-preserved example of 17th- and 18th-century military architecture in a Caribbean context. Designed by the British and built by African slave labour, the fortress is testimony to European colonial expansion, the African slave trade and the emergence of new societies in the Caribbean." In: UNESCO

2013-05-28

Charlestown, Nevis - Saint Kitts and Nevis


© KiMagic Photo & Design

Unused, sent by "andreaeiko"

"Charlestown is the capital of the island of Nevis, in the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Leeward Islands, West Indies. Charlestown is situated on the leeward side of the island of Nevis, near the southern end of Pinneys Beach.

Historically, in colonial times, the town of Charlestown was protected by Fort Charles to the south and Fort Black Rocks to the north. Many of the oldest two-story stone buildings were severely damaged over time by earthquakes, which tended to cause the upper story to collapse into the lower story. This unfortunate design flaw lead to the common practice of building a wooden upper floor above a stone ground floor." In: Wikipedia

2013-05-27

Prambanan Temple, Central Java - Indonesia (UNESCO WHS)


© PATW

Unused, sent by Sapic12

"Candi Prambanan or Candi Rara Jonggrang is a 9th-century Hindu temple compound in Central Java, Indonesia, dedicated to the Trimurti, the expression of God as the Creator (Brahma), the Preserver (Vishnu) and the Destroyer (Shiva). The temple compound is located approximately 18 kilometres (11 mi) east of the city of Yogyakarta on the boundary between Central Java and Yogyakarta provinces.

The temple compound, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest Hindu temple site in Indonesia, and one of the biggest in Southeast Asia. It is characterized by its tall and pointed architecture, typical of Hindu temple architecture, and by the towering 47-metre-high (154 ft) central building inside a large complex of individual temples. Prambanan attracts many visitors from across the world." In: Wikipedia

2013-05-26

RU-1529882 - Storks


© ?

RU-1529882 sent by "Vall-e"

"Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long, stout bills. They belong to the family Ciconiidae. They are the only family in the biological order Ciconiiformes, which was once much larger and held a number of families.

Storks occur in many regions of the world and tend to live in drier habitats than the related herons, spoonbills and ibises; they also lack the powder down that those groups use to clean off fish slime. Storks have no syrinx and are mute, giving no call; bill-clattering is an important mode of stork communication at the nest. Many species are migratory. Most storks eat frogs, fish, insects, earthworms, small birds and small mammals. There are 19 living species of storks in six genera." In: Wikipedia

2013-05-25

Gardens at Kroměříž - Czech Republic (UNESCO WHS)


© ?

Unused, sent by Sapic12

"Kroměříž stands on the site of an earlier ford across the River Morava, at the foot of the Chriby mountain range which dominates the central part of Moravia. The gardens and castle of Kroměříž are an exceptionally complete and well-preserved example of a European Baroque princely residence and its gardens." In: UNESCO

2013-05-24

Several views of Egypt


© F-G Company

Unused, sent by Sapic12

Some of the places to see in Egypt.

2013-05-23

"Rascasso" fish - Portugal


© Alfredo da Conceição (ilustration) / Serviço Nacional de Parques, Reservas e Conservação da Natureza

Unused, sent by Sapic12

"Rascasso" is the portuguese name for the Scorpaena sp fish. According to Fishbase, in the USA is known as the California scorpionfish or sculpin.

2013-05-22

Texel - Netherlands (UNESCO WHS) (Postcrossing Meeting)


© Sytske Dijksen

Sent by Lotty from the Postcrossing Meeting in Maastricht, 16/03/2013.

"Texel is a municipality and an island in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It is the largest and most populated of the Frisian Islands in the Wadden Sea, and also the westernmost of this archipelago, which extends to Denmark. The next island in the archipelago, to the north of Texel, is Vlieland." In: Wikipedia


"The islands in the Wadden Sea are called the Wadden Sea Islands or Frisian Islands, named after the Frisians. However, on the westernmost Dutch island, Texel, the Frisian language has not been spoken for centuries. The Danish Wadden Sea Islands have never been inhabited by Frisians. The outlying German island of Heligoland, although ethnically one of the Frisian Islands, is not situated in the Wadden Sea." In: Wikipedia

2013-05-21

Palau de la Música Catalana, Barcelona - Spain (UNESCO WHS)


© Comercial Escut D'Or

Sent from Barcelona. "Blicas Blocas", "Martinha" and I booked a tour guide to this amazing building! It's a fantastic place to discover all the little details created by Gaudí master, Lluis Domènech i Montaner.

"The Palau de la Música Catalana is one of the most emblematic buildings of Art Nouveau (Modernism), exceptional both for its qualities and its setting in the historic centre of Barcelona. It was outstanding from the moment of its conception because of two factors that were to be of great future importance: a special concept of space and a very intelligent use of new technologies developed during the Rationalist revolution. The Palau was the most important source of an architectural concept of great future relevance: the reticulated metallic structure, free floor space, and non-load-bearing outer walls like continuous curtains of glass. The entire building was designed as an intelligent interplay of spaces stemming from the abrupt separation between the exterior and the interior and making maximum use of natural light." In: UNESCO

2013-05-20

Mino Otaki waterfall, Minou City - Japan

I had no clue where this waterfall has... I asked for help on Facebook and "Suggy Chika" answered quite fast to my reply.


© ?

Sent by Toshio

"Meiji no Mori Minō Kokutei Koen is a Quasi-National Park in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It was founded on 11 December 1967 and has an area of 9.6 km².

The park is located on Mt Minō in Ōsaka Prefecture. Its grounds encompasse 963 ha of lower mountain slope and forest and reside at relatively low altitudes of 100 m to 600m.

Geologically, sedimentary rocks from the Mesozoic Era dominate the geology of the location with ccasional outcroppings of granite and diorite. The tomb of Kaijyo, the founding monk of Katsuō-ji Temple built in 765, is located inside of the park.

Despite its proximity to the Metropolitan Osaka Area, the park is inhabited by 1,300 plant species and 3,500 insect species. The location is also known as a paradise for a large population of birds, animals, fish, and little creatures, as well as monkeys, which are protected by law. The Tōkai Nature Trail, which starts at Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park, ends here." In: Wikipedia

2013-05-19

Barrier Reef Reserve - Belize (UNESCO WHS)


© Astral Graphics

Sent by "9teen87"

"The coastal area of Belize is an outstanding natural system consisting of the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere, offshore atolls, several hundred sand cays, mangrove forests, coastal lagoons and estuaries. The system’s seven sites illustrate the evolutionary history of reef development and are a significant habitat for threatened species, including marine turtles, manatees and the American marine crocodile." In: UNESCO

2013-05-18

Fort Thüngen - Luxembourg


© Editions Gropalux

Unused, brought by Claúdia Ferreira

"Fort Thüngen is a historic fortification in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It is sited in Dräi Eechelen Park, in the Kirchberg quarter, in the north-east of the city. It is also colloquially known as Three Acorns (Luxembourgish: Dräi Eechelen, French: Trois glands  German: Drei Eicheln) in reference to the acorns that sit atop each of the three towers.

Most of the original fortress was demolished after the 1867 Treaty of London, which demanded the demolition of Luxembourg City's numerous fortifications. The three towers and the foundations of the rest of the fort were all that remained. During the 1990s, the site was reconstructed in its entirety, in parallel with the development of the site for the construction of the Mudam, Luxembourg's museum of modern art." In: Wikipedia

2013-05-17

Historic Centre of Český Krumlov - Czech Republic (UNESCO WHS)


© Voroplavba Český Krumlov s.r.o.

Unused, sent by "Sapic12"

"Situated on the banks of the Vltava river, the town was built around a 13th-century castle with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements. It is an outstanding example of a small central European medieval town whose architectural heritage has remained intact thanks to its peaceful evolution over more than five centuries." In: UNESCO

2013-05-16

RU-1608590 - Seals


© ?

RU-1608590 sent by "Coralin"

"Pinnipeds, also known as fin-footed mammals (from Latin pinna, wing or fin, and ped-, foot), often generalized as seals, are a widely distributed and diverse group of fin-footed marine mammals which are semiaquatic comprising the families Odobenidae (the walrus), Otariidae (eared seals, sea lions, and fur seals), and Phocidae (earless seals). The family does not include cetaceans, otters, or sirenians." In: Wikipedia

I think those seals belong to Phocidae family, but I'm not sure.

2013-05-15

PL-672783 - Gmina Łazy


© Vega Studio Adv. Kwidzyn

PL-272783 sent by "karolinad23"

"Gmina Łazy is an urban-rural gmina (administrative district) in Zawiercie County, Silesian Voivodeship, in southern Poland. Its seat is the town of Łazy, which lies approximately 8 kilometres (5 mi) south of Zawiercie and 35 km (22 mi) north-east of the regional capital Katowice.

The gmina covers an area of 132.56 square kilometres (51.2 sq mi), and as of 2006 its total population is 15,990 (out of which the population of Łazy amounts to 7,139, and the population of the rural part of the gmina is 8,851).

The gmina contains part of the protected area called Eagle Nests Landscape Park." In: Wikipedia

2013-05-14

GB-400066 - Polar bears


© Norbert Rosing


Postcard from Manitoba, Canada but sent from UK GB-400066 sent by "WildPlace"

"The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is a bear native largely within the Arctic Circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the world's largest land carnivore and also the largest bear, together with the omnivorous Kodiak bear, which is approximately the same size. A boar (adult male) weighs around 350–700 kg (770–1,500 lb), while a sow (adult female) is about half that size. Although it is closely related to the brown bear, it has evolved to occupy a narrower ecological niche, with many body characteristics adapted for cold temperatures, for moving across snow, ice, and open water, and for hunting the seals which make up most of its diet. Although most polar bears are born on land, they spend most of their time at sea. Their scientific name means "maritime bear", and derives from this fact. Polar bears can hunt their preferred food of seals from the edge of sea ice, often living off fat reserves when no sea ice is present." In: Wikipedia

2013-05-13

US-2083527 - Colorado

I have two postcards with the same ID US-2083527... The first one arrived during my vacations without any ID. The user "US-Ilovepostcards" sent me a message with the missing ID but also sent a second postcard...

The first one shows the Crystal Mill and the second the natural landscape of Colorado.


© Glenn Randall (photo) / Smith-Southwestern

Information on the back side: "Crystal Mill, also known as the Lost Horse or Dead Horse Mill, was a hydroelectric power generator for mining equipment and machinery near town of Crystal, Colorado. Crystal was founded by prospectors in 1880, and at the height of mining in 1886, it had seven working silver mines and about 400 residents."



© Photos: Neil Purret, Ken Ringer / Smith-Southwestern

Information on the back side: "Formed millions of years ago by volcanoes, glaciers and other natural forces, the Colorado landscape is an awe-inspiring blend of mountains, lakes, forests and plains."

2013-05-12

Puente Nuevo and the fall of Ronda - Spain


© Publicaciones Ronda

Sent by "Joaninha"

"Ronda is a city in the Spanish province of Málaga. It is located about 100 kilometres (62 mi) west of the city of Málaga, within the autonomous community of Andalusia. 

[...]Three bridges, Puente Romano ("Roman Bridge", also known as the Puente San Miguel), Puente Viejo ("Old Bridge", also known as the Puente Árabe or "Arab Bridge") and Puente Nuevo ("New Bridge"), span the canyon. The term "nuevo" is a bit of a misnomer, as the building of this bridge commenced in 1751 and took until 1793 to complete. The Puente Nuevo is the tallest of the bridges, towering 120 metres (390 ft) above the canyon floor, and all three serve as some of the city's most impressive features." In: Wikipedia

2013-05-11

Algar do Carvão, Terceira Island, Azores - Portugal


© Luís Godinho (photo) / Marina Souvenirs

Sent by Lurdes

"The Algar do Carvão is an ancient lava tube or volcanic vent located in the center of the island of Terceira in the Azores. It lies within the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo in the parish of Porto Judeu.

The word, algar, is a Portuguese word that denotes a natural cavity in the earth that, unlike most caves or caverns, is vertical in its orientation, like a well. The Portuguese word derives from the Arabic word, al-Gar, which means "the crease". Carvão means "coal" in Portuguese, but the Algar do Carvão is not a source of coal; so, to call this geological feature "coal cavern" is more an acknowledgment of its darkness than the composition of the rock in which it was formed." In: Wikipedia

2013-05-10

JP-368163 - Orca whale


© www.nihon-rettou.jp

JP-368163 sent by "gururu-guruguru"

"The killer whale (Orcinus orca), also referred to as the orca whale or orca, and less commonly as the blackfish, is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family. Killer whales are found in all oceans, from the frigid Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas. Killer whales as a species have a diverse diet, although individual populations often specialize in particular types of prey. Some feed exclusively on fish, while others hunt marine mammals such as sea lions, seals, walruses, and even large whales. Killer whales are regarded as apex predators, lacking natural predators.

Killer whales are highly social; some populations are composed of matrilineal family groups which are the most stable of any animal species. Their sophisticated hunting techniques and vocal behaviors, which are often specific to a particular group and passed across generations, have been described as manifestations of culture." In: Wikipedia

2013-05-09

Intersection of Prinsengracht and Brouwersgracht, Amsterdam - Netherlands (UNESCO WHS) (Postcrossing Meeting in Amsterdam)


© HAMAR

Sent by Caroline from the Postcrossing Meeting in Amsterdam (30/03/2013)

"Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, has been called the "Venice of the North" for its more than one hundred kilometres of canals, about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges. The three main canals, Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht, dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age, form concentric belts around the city, known as the Grachtengordel. Alongside the main canals are 1550 monumental buildings. The 17th-century canal ring area, including the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht and Jordaan, were placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010." In: Wikipedia

2013-05-08

CN-850206 - Roca Shaibu, Mount Wuyi (UNESCO WHS)


© Zhao Yong (photo) / China International Press

CN-850206 sent by "dsw"

"Mount Wuyi is the most outstanding area for biodiversity conservation in south-east China and a refuge for a large number of ancient, relict species, many of them endemic to China. The serene beauty of the dramatic gorges of the Nine Bend River, with its numerous temples and monasteries, many now in ruins, provided the setting for the development and spread of neo-Confucianism, which has been influential in the cultures of East Asia since the 11th century. In the 1st century B.C. a large administrative capital was built at nearby Chengcun by the Han dynasty rulers. Its massive walls enclose an archaeological site of great significance." In: UNESCO

2013-05-07

MU-1853 - Le Morne (UNESCO WHS)


© Arts Distributions & Cie

MU-1853 sent by "julesverne"

"Le Morne Cultural Landscape, a rugged mountain that juts into the Indian Ocean in the southwest of Mauritius was used as a shelter by runaway slaves, maroons, through the 18th and early years of the 19th centuries. Protected by the mountain’s isolated, wooded and almost inaccessible cliffs, the escaped slaves formed small settlements in the caves and on the summit of Le Morne. The oral traditions associated with the maroons, have made Le Morne a symbol of the slaves’ fight for freedom, their suffering, and their sacrifice, all of which have relevance to the countries from which the slaves came - the African mainland, Madagascar, India, and South-east Asia. Indeed, Mauritius, an important stopover in the eastern slave trade, also came to be known as the “Maroon republic” because of the large number of escaped slaves who lived on Le Morne Mountain." In: UNESCO

2013-05-06

Jewish Quarter - Front Synagogue, Třebíč - Czech Republic (UNESCO WHS)


© Fr. Fiala (photo) / Fibox

Unused, sent by Sapic12

"The ensemble of the Jewish Quarter, the old Jewish cemetery and the Basilica of St Procopius in Trebíc are reminders of the co-existence of Jewish and Christian cultures from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The Jewish Quarter bears outstanding testimony to the different aspects of the life of this community. St Procopius Basilica, built as part of the Benedictine monastery in the early 13th century, is a remarkable example of the influence of Western European architectural heritage in this region." In: UNESCO

2013-05-05

Sea lions in the Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska - USA


© Jeff Gnass (photo) / Artic Circle Enterprises

Unused, sent by Sapic12

Information on the back side: "Steller Sea Lions sunning themselves in the Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska."

"Kenai Fjords National Park is a United States National Park established in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. The park covers an area of 669,984 acres (1,046.85 sq mi; 2,711.33 km2) on the Kenai Peninsula in southcentral Alaska, near the town of Seward. The park contains the Harding Icefield, one of the largest ice fields in the United States. The park is named for the numerous fjords carved by glaciers moving down the mountains from the ice field. The field is the source of at least 38 glaciers, the largest of which is Bear Glacier. The park lies just to the west of Seward, a popular port for cruise ships. Exit Glacier is reachable by road and is a popular tour destination. The remainder of the park is primarily accessible by boat. The fjords are glacial valleys that have been submerged below sea level by a combination of rising sea levels and land subsidence." In: Wikipedia

2013-05-04

Rio de Janeiro - Brazil


© Photos by: Aldo Colombo, Fábio Vidigal, Carlos Alvim, Ricardo Zerrenner / Postal Colombo

Unused, brought by Liliana Ferreira

"Rio de Janeiro (January River), commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th largest in the Americas, and 26th in the world." In: Wikipedia

2013-05-03

Castelo de Vide - Portugal


© Forways, Lda

Sent by Blicas Blocas

"The medieval town-walls were built and destroyed several times during the 13th century, a result of conflict of interests between local lords and the king, who, living at a distance, was generally supported by the local population. The castle, erected by order of Dinis, king of Portugal, was completed during the reign of his son Afonso IV in 1327. From then on the town Vide was called Castelo de Vide.

The basic materials used in the construction of the stronghold are stone (quartzite and granite), brick, lime mortar and earth.

The main tower remained a long time unoccupied following the explosion that destroyed it in 1705, during the Spanish occupation. Further damage ensued during the earthquake of 1755.

Various attempts at repair of the main tower were made, culminating with a complete rebuild in 1978.$nbsp;

The Castle is protected as a National Monument since 1910." In: Tourism of Castelo de Vide

2013-05-02

St Peter's Square - Vatican (UNESCO WHS)


© Giancarlo Gasponi

Sent by Rita during the Sede Vacante period

"The Vatican City, one of the most sacred places in Christendom, attests to a great history and a formidable spiritual venture. A unique collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces lie within the boundaries of this small state. At its centre is St Peter's Basilica, with its double colonnade and a circular piazza in front and bordered by palaces and gardens. The basilica, erected over the tomb of St Peter the Apostle, is the largest religious building in the world, the fruit of the combined genius of Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, Bernini and Maderno." In: UNESCO

2013-05-01

Snakes and Ladders Exhibition at Singapore Philatelic Museum - Singapore

Every year the Singapore Philatelic Museum organize an exhibition with the animals of the chinese zodiac year. To do that, they invite all the people around the world to send a postcard related to the theme. This is the thank they sent me to thank my contribution.


© Singapore Philatelic Museum

Sent by Singapore Philatelic Museum

" "Snakes and Ladders" exhibition
Date: 1 February - September 2013
Did you know that snakes cannot move backwards and they have very poor hearing? With limited eyesight and hearing, snakes have developed a very good sensing tongue.

Snakes are reptiles. Evidence indicates that snakes evolved from lizards. To adapt to living underground, the legs became unnecessary. The movable eyelids became transparent covers and snakes lost their external eardrum. Like all reptiles, snakes have scaly skins to prevent them from drying up. There are about 3,000 species of snakes. They are cold-blooded and depend on external heat to keep alive. So, many snakes are found in warmer tropical areas.

Find out interesting facts and myths of this scaly but not slimy creature in the Children's Gallery. The exhibition is held in conjunction with the zodiac year of the snake." In: SPM

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