Puffin - Belarus

© ?

Used, sent by Sapic12

"Puffins are any of three small species of alcids (auks) in the bird genus Fratercula with a brightly coloured beak during the breeding season. These are pelagic seabirds that feed primarily by diving in the water. They breed in large colonies on coastal cliffs or offshore islands, nesting in crevices among rocks or in burrows in the soil. Two species, the Tufted Puffin and Horned Puffin, are found in the North Pacific Ocean, while the Atlantic Puffin is found in the North Atlantic Ocean.

All puffin species have predominantly black or black and white plumage, a stocky build, and large beaks. They shed the colourful outer parts of their bills after the breeding season, leaving a smaller and duller beak. Their short wings are adapted for swimming with a flying technique under water. In the air, they beat their wings rapidly (up to 400 times per minute in swift flight, often flying low over the ocean's surface." In: Wikipedia

BY-544410 - Church of Saint Simon and Helena, Minsk

© Издатель Владимир Шарков

BY-544410 sent by "Gra"

"Church of Saints Simon and Helen (Belarusian: Касцёл святых Сымона і Алены) also known as the Red Church (Belarusian: Чырвоны касцёл) is a Roman Catholic church on Independence Square in Minsk, Belarus.

This neo-Romanesque church was designed by polish architects Tomasz Pajzderski and Władysław Marconi, and built during 1905-1910. The bricks for its walls were sourced from Częstochowa, whilst the roof tiles came from Włocławek. Its construction was financed by Edward Woyniłłowicz, a prominent Polish civic activist. The church was named and consecrated in memory of Woyniłłowicz's deceased children, Szymon and Helena." In: Wikipedia

BY-639962 - Fish

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BY-639962 sent by "Child_of_post-rock"

I have no idea how this fish is called... Any clue?

BY-427689 - Ducklings

© A. Miadzvedz

BY-427689 sent by "Valus", lots of little ducks.

BY-161750 -Red Deer at Bialowieza Forest (UNESCO)

© C.M. Пльіткевіч

BY-161750 sent by "Eygenie" 

I think that deer are a beautiful animal, although I don't like the winter colours of the fur...  Anyway, this lovely winter view of the Red Deer (Cervus elephus) came from Bialowieza Forest in Belarus.

"The Białowieża Primeval Forest is the last remaining primary deciduous and mixed forest of the European lowlands. Located on the watershed of the Baltic and Black seas, this immense forest range consisting of evergreens and broadleaved trees is the home of some remarkable animal life, including rare and interesting mammals. The park comprises about one-tenth of the entire Białowieża Primeval Forest, which has a wide range of flora and fauna typical of both Western and Eastern Europe." In: UNESCO

BY-111814 - Cathedral of The Holy Spirit in Minsk

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BY-111814 sent by "Mary-sunny"

A great painting from The Holy Spirit Cathedral in Minsk.

"Formerly a Roman Catholic Church and Bernadine convent, it was built according to the Vilnius Baroque style. Laid in 1642 and completed in the 18th century, the cathedral is a valuable monument of Old Minsk. Six columns divide the inner room into three naves. The mid nave, traditional for basilica-type temples, is considerably wider and higher than the lateral ones. The iconostasis has a number of marvelous icons including the Our Lady wonder-making icon that miraculously appeared on the Svisloch bank back in 1500." In: Minsk Info

BY-35572 - Nesvizh Castle (UNESCO)

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BY-35572 sent by "Jorik"

This card shows an aerial view of Nesvizh, with the Corpus Christi Church in the meddle and the Castle on the top.

"The Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh is located in central Belarus. The Radziwill dynasty, who built and kept the ensemble from the 16th century until 1939, gave birth to some of the most important personalities in European history and culture. Due to their efforts, the town of Nesvizh came to exercise great influence in the sciences, arts, crafts and architecture. The complex consists of the residential castle and the mausoleum Church of Corpus Christi with their setting. The castle has ten interconnected buildings, which developed as an architectural whole around a six-sided courtyard. The palaces and church became important prototypes marking the development of architecture throughout Central Europe and Russia." In: UNESCO

BY-353078 - An illustration from "Peter I" by A. Tolstoy

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BY-353078 sent by "Vixit"

I've never read anything from A. Tolstoy, this card is an illustration from his book "Peter I".

BY-315135 - Water Towers in Grodno

BY-315135 sent by "Nickey"

It shows the Water Towers in Grodno

BY-205625 - Mir Castle Complex

BY-205625 sent by "Majarika"

"The Mirsky Castle Complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Belarus located in the town of Mir in the Karelichy District of the Hrodna voblast.

The construction of the castle began at the end of the 15th century, in the Gothic architecture style. Building of the castle was completed by Duke Ilinich in the early 16th century near village Mir (formerly of Minsk guberniya). Around 1568 the Mir Castle passed into the hands of Mikołaj Krzysztof "the Orphan" Radziwiłł, who finished building the castle in the Renaissance style. A three-storey palace was built along the eastern and northern walls of the castle. Plastered facades were decorated with limestone portals, plates, balconies and porches.

After being abandoned for nearly a century and suffering severe damage during the Napoleonic period, the castle was restored at the end of the 19th century. In 1813, after the death of Dominik Hieronim Radziwiłł, the castle passed into the hands of his daughter Stefania, who married Ludwig zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg. The castle later fell into the hands of their daughter Maria, who married Prince Chlodwig Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst.

Their son, Maurice Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst sold the castle to Nikolai Sviatopolk-Mirski, of the Bialynia clan, in 1895. Nikolaj's son Michail began to rebuild the castle according to the plans of architect Teodor Bursze. The Sviatopolk-Mirski family owned the castle up to 1939. During WWII, it came under the dominion of the Nazi occupying force and served as a ghetto for the local Jewish population prior to their liquidation." In: Wikipedia

BY-90193 - Mount Koshka and Swan Wing cliff

BY-90193 sent by sannychka

"Mount Koshka is a mountain in the Crimean Mountains near the settlement of Simeiz within the Greater Yalta metropolitan area. The original name in the Crimean Tatar language means "double rock", while the Russian name means "cat" in Russian, as the shape of the mountain resembles a sitting cat. The height is 254 metres.
At Koshka mountain is situated Simeiz observatory at the level of 360m above sea level at southern mountainside of the Crimean mountains." In: Wikipedia