Edmonton, Alberta - Canada

© N. Kelly (photo)

Unused

"Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region.

The city had a population of 812,201 in the 2011 Census, making it Alberta's second-largest city and Canada's fifth-largest municipality. This population represents 70 percent of the total 2011 population of 1,159,869 within the Edmonton census metropolitan area (CMA), Canada's sixth-largest CMA by population. Edmonton is the northernmost North American city with a metropolitan population over one million. A resident of Edmonton is known as an Edmontonian.

Edmonton's historic growth has been facilitated through the absorption of five adjacent urban municipalities, including Strathcona, North Edmonton, West Edmonton (Calder), Beverly and Jasper Place, and a series of annexations of surrounding rural lands until 1982. Edmonton serves as the northern anchor of the Calgary–Edmonton Corridor and is a staging point for large-scale oil sands projects occurring in northern Alberta and large-scale diamond mining operations in the Northwest Territories." In: Wikipedia

Botafogo Bay - Brazil

© Sylvio Relvas

Sent by "Luciencc"

"Botafogo is a beachfront neighborhood (bairro) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is a mostly upper middle class and small commerce community, and is located between the hills of Mundo Novo, Dona Marta (which separates it from Laranjeiras) and São João (which separates it from Copacabana)." In: Wikipedia

AU-122008 - Wombat and Tasmanian Devil

© Mike Calder Photography

AU-122008 sent by "Sugar-rules"

Information on the card: "Female wombats and Tasmanian Devils both have a backward-opening pouch where the juvenile remains for four to six months. Wombats live in large burrows and eat plants, whereas devils live in dens and are carnivorous."

Malagasy child - Madagascar

© Nouvelle Images / Bruno Morandi

Unused, bought in Cologne, Germany.

This postcard is amazing! A great child smile on a background full of colors!

Tutankhamun's Gold Mask at Cairo's Egyptian Museum - Egypt

© Emil Fink Verlag, Stuttgart

Unused

"Unlike many tombs discovered in Egypt, that of King Tutankhamun was found mostly intact. Inside the tomb there was a large collection of artifacts used throughout the King’s life. These artifacts ranged from a decorated chest, which was most likely used as a closet or suitcase, two ivory and gold bracelets, necklaces, and other decorative jewelry, to alabaster vases and flasks. The tomb was also home to many weapons and instruments used by the King. Although the tomb held over 3,500 artifacts, the tomb was not found completely intact. In fact, there had been at least two robberies of the tomb, perhaps soon after Tutankhamun's burial.

The best known artifact in King Tutankhamun’s tomb is the famous Gold Mask, which rested over the bandages that were wrapped around the King’s face. The mask weighs in at 11 kg (24.5 pounds) of solid gold, and is believed to represent what the King’s face really looked like." In: Wikipedia

Picos de Europa - Spain

© Fisa

Unused, brought by Claúdia, a view over Covadonga lakes.

"The Picos de Europa (literally: "Peaks of Europe", often abbreviated to the Picos) is a range of mountains 20 km inland from the northern coast of Spain, located in the Autonomous Communities of Asturias, Cantabria and Castile and León, forming part of the Cantabrian Mountains. The most widely accepted origin for the name is that they were the first sight of Europe for ships arriving from the Americas." In: Wikipedia

Lagarteira Fortress, Vila Praia de Âncora - Portugal

© Forways

Sent by "gracinha"

"Âncora or Lagarteira Fortress

This fortress was built in the 17th century during the reign of King Pedro II to reinforce the Portuguese coast." In: Lifecooler

Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau, Barcelona - Spain (UNESCO)

© FISA - Escudo de Oro

Unused, sent by "ninocas"

"From a historiographical point of view, the Hospital de Sant Pau is of immense importance because it is the largest hospital complex in Modernist style. Historically, the Hospital de Sant Pau, at one and the same time original and daring, demonstrates how Doménech i Montaner had studied the problem of modern hospitals. Work began in 1901 and by 1911 eight blocks of the complex had been built and were in use. In 1913 the architect brought his son, Pere Doménech i Roura, into the project, and they worked together on the church and further hospital blocks until Lluis Domènech i Montaner's death in 1923. Pere Doménech i Roura was responsible for completion of the project, which continued until 1930." In: UNESCO

Bom Jesus Sanctuary, Braga - Portugal (Postcrossing Meeting Braga 05/01/2013)

© EDIG

Sent from the Postcrossing Meeting in Braga 05/01/2013

"Bom Jesus do Monte is a Portuguese sanctuary in Tenões, surroundings of the city of Braga, in northern Portugal. Its name means Good Jesus of the Mount.

The Sanctuary is a notable example of pilgrimage site with a monumental, Baroque stairway that climbs 116 metres (381 feet). It is an important tourist attraction of Braga." In: Wikipedia

Green sea turtle from Carolina coast - USA

© Peter Doran

US-1924504 sent by "david2051"

Information on the back side: "The green sea turtle grows to a maximum size of about 4 feet and weight of 440 pounds" .

"The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), also known as the green turtle, black (sea) turtle, or Pacific green turtle, is a large sea turtle of the family Cheloniidae. It is the only species in the genus Chelonia. Its range extends throughout tropical and subtropical seas around the world, with two distinct populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The common name derives from the usually green fat found beneath its carapace.

This sea turtle's dorsoventrally flattened body is covered by a large, teardrop-shaped carapace; it has a pair of large, paddle-like flippers. It is usually lightly colored, although in the eastern Pacific populations parts of the carapace can be almost black. Unlike other members of its family, such as the hawksbill sea turtle and loggerhead sea turtle, C. mydas is mostly herbivorous. The adults commonly inhabit shallow lagoons, feeding mostly on various species of seagrasses." In: Wikipedia