USA ~ Alcatraz - San Francisco - California ~

...  Great aerial view of Alcatraz Island... the massive prison building on the island's crest dominates the view... after visiting a few Hawaiian island, the last stop on my nephew's holiday was San Francisco... and no trip to San Francisco is complete without seeing Alcatraz island... better known by its famous moniker, "The Rock",  one of America’s most feared prisons that no criminals wanted to be sent to... despite the steep cliffs, several would-be escapees chose this side to make their bid for freedom... a visit to the island includes a tour of the cell house where visitors can see how the prisoners lived... although the last inmates were transferred off the island in 1963, the main prison block, with its steel bars, claustrophobic cells, mess hall, library and "dark holes," is still structurally intact... while at Alcatraz, you have stunning views of the San Francisco skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge... Thanks a lot  Ben and Loes voor ♥*6*♥ wonderful postcards! (✿◠‿◠)

Alcatraz Island is a small island 2.01 km offshore from San Francisco.The island was developed in the mid-19th century with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, and a military prison. In 1934, the island was converted into a federal prison, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. The strong currents around the island and cold water temperatures made escape nearly impossible, and the prison became one of the most notorious in American history.

Among the 1,545 men sent there, a few were famous: Al “Scarface” Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, Arthur “Doc” Barker, Alvin “Creepy Karpis” Karpavicz, Robert “The Birdman” Stroud, Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson, and Meyer “Mickey” Cohen.

Stamp: 

Flowers - African Daisy 

(Issued 14-03-2022)

USA ~ San Francisco - California ~

...Nice views of some of the most iconic landmarks of the city... although the city is small there’s is a lot see... it has all sorts of excellent museums, Victorian architecture, and the oldest and biggest Chinatown in the country... the city’s history is rich and filled with California Gold Rush lore and colorful immigrant stories... famous for the fog that suddenly rolls in on a sunny day...  all this makes San Francisco one of the unique American destinations for many travelers... Hééééél erg Bedankt Dorien en Roel!【ツ】

"Golden Gate Bridge - Alcatraz Island - Colt Tower with Bay Bridge - Cable Car" Photos: Lenny Gill

San Francisco is a city and port located in northern California on the West Coast bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay. It's the 4th largest city in California.

The name San Francisco was inspired by colonists from Spain who in 1776 established the Mission San Francisco de Asis named after Saint Francis of Assisi.

Stamp: Flowers - African Daisy

(Issued 14-03-2021)

 

USA ~ Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls - UNESCO ~

... View of one of the features for which Yosemite National Park is most famous...Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in the Park and the tallest in North America dropping a total of 739 m from the top of the upper fall to the base of the lower fall... this beautiful waterfall reaches its peak in May... a favorite walk is to the bridge at the base of the Lower Fall, where visitors experience clouds of mist, wind and the thunderous roar of water... in Spring during times of the full moon, an ethereal lunar rainbow appears at the base of Lower Yosemite Fall... it is a major attraction in the park... Thanks a lot Karolyn!【ツ】

Yosemite National Park includes the Yosemite Valley and many of the surrounding mountains stretching across the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California and covers an area more than 3,000 km2. Researchers believe that a glacier formed the Yosemite Valley.

It was established in 1890 and that makes it one of the oldest nature preserves in the United States.

The Park is known for its granite cliffs, giant sequoia groves, lakes, mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, and streams. Almost 95% of the park is classified as wilderness and is home to a large variety of plants and animals.

In 1984, The Yosemite National Park was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Photo: John Wagner

Stamps:

Sports - Arnold Palmer 

(Issued 04-03-2020)

Western Wear

(Issued 23-07-2021)

Military Working Dog

(Issued 01-08-2019)

USA ~ Death Valley National Park - California ~

... Today another great National Park view👍... the largest NP in the USA... this park has the hottest (record summer heet), driest  and lowest point in North America... a land of extremes... with valleys, mountains, canyons, salt flats, sand dunes, and oases... Zabriskie Point is a favorite spot for sunrises and sunsets because of how the badlands capture and reflect the golden and reddish colors... Big Thanks once more Andrene!!¯\_(ツ)_/¯  Have a wonderful time🙂...

©2007 G. Louis Vopalensky Postcards
From backside postcard:
Zabriskie Point is located on Highway 190 near Furnace Creek. The badlands in this area were formed as a result of sediments collecting in a ancient lake bed 5 to 10 million years ago. Erosion and volcanic activity helped to sculpt the formations here, most notable Manlay Beacon (picture on front), name in honor of William H. Manley who was a guide for the 49'ers gold rush of 1849.

Death Valley is a desert valley located in Eastern California, in the northern Mojave Desert bordering the Great Basin Desert. This National Park covers an area of  3.4 million acres and became a national park in 1994.

Stamp:

 Holiday Stamp - Poinsettia
 (Issued 26-08-2018)

USA ~ Joshua Tree National Park - California ~

... Great new USA National Park... a park where two deserts meet... filled with otherworldly Joshua "trees," which aren't trees at all, but tree-like members of the yucca family... a wildlife and environmental haven... the park has much to offer....diverse desert life, dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features add to the wonder of this vast wilderness...  it’s no wonder that over two million people make the journey into the desert to visit the National Park every year... unfortunately due to the longest-ever government shutdown the National park saw ‘irreparable’ damage including vandalism, ruined trails and trees cut down... and it may take 300 years to recover from it... ***sigh*** I just don't understand people anymore... Big Thanks Andrene for sending a bit of 🌞sunshine🌞 in my mailbox!! (needed some too) (✿ ♥‿♥)

©2013 G. Louis Vopalensky Postcards
Joshua Tree National Park is located in southeastern California and became a National Park in 1994. This  National Park covers an area of almost 790, 000 – 790,640 acres.The park lies at an ecological crossroads, where the high Mojave Desert meets the low Colorado Desert.

It is named for the Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) native to the park.

Birds, lizards, and ground squirrels are most likely to be seen because they are largely active during the day. However, it is at night that desert animals come out to roam. Mostly nocturnal animals include snakes, bighorn sheep, kangaroo rats, coyotes, lynx, and black-tailed jackrabbits. Animals that thrive in Joshua Tree often have special adaptations for dealing with limited water and high summer temperatures.

Stamp:

 Holiday Stamp - Poinsettia
 (Issued 26-08-2018)

USA ~ Channel Islands National Park - California ~

... First of two great new additions to my National Park collection... one of the nine National Parks in  California.... spectacular view of "Cathedral Cove" on "Anacapa Island"...looking down at the Pacific Ocean ... these remote remote islands are only accessible to visitors by boat... part of one of the richest marine ecosystems of the world... many endemic species live both in the water and on land... as extra bonusツ with national park stamp cancellation... Thanks a lot Boyana!! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Photo: George H. H. Huey "Golden-flowered, giant coreopsis competes for terrain with invasive, nonnative ice plant. The survival of the park's diverse native plant life depends on our ability to respect, restore, and preserve their natural communities."
Established in 1980, five of the eight Channel Islands in Southern California make up this national park: San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Anacapa, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz. The park is 1,010 km2 (389.9 sq mi), only half of which are land, the other half Pacific Ocean. Tiny Anacapa Island is the closest to the mainland of all the Channel Islands, it's only 12 miles out to sea, and therefore the most visited.

Preserved for their unique natural and cultural resources the islands contain, among other features, 145 species of plants and animals that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

In the past, the Chumash and Tongva Indians lived on the islands, and later they were used mostly for fishing. Some are in military use today.

Stamp:

Holiday Stamp - Poinsettia
(Issued 26-08-2018)

USA ~ Sequoia National Park ~

...Fantastic postcard of America’s second oldest National Park... with giant trees of which one is actually the largest tree on the planet and they are are amongst the oldest living organism in the world with some trees as old as 3000 years...♣WoW♣... Thank you very much Kimberley!!

Sequoia National Forest is located in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains of California. This National Park was founded in 1890 to protect the trees that bear its name and covers 404,063 acres.

Included in the Park's mountainous landscape is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, Mt. Whitney.


From backside postcard:
The General Sherman Tree.
Though some trees are taller and some have a larger base circumference, no tree equals the sheer mass of the General Sherman. At 275 feet tall, 103 feet around at is base, and with a volume of 52.000 cubic feet, the General Sherman is the largest living thing in the world.


Photo: Ed Cooper

Stamps:

American Design
(Issued 2007- 2008)

Views of Our Planets
(Issued 31-05-2016)

USA ~Scipps Pier-La Jolla~

...Breathtaking ocean view...Deep blue colors and an amazing atmosphere of calmness...(US-2149536) Thanks a lot Tiffany!!
“We know that when we protect our oceans we’re protecting our future.” – Bill Clinton


 Global Forever stamp that shows the beauty of our entire planet.
(Issued: 28-01-2013)

The Scripps Institution of Oceanography research pier is 1090 feet long and was built of reinforced concrete in 1988, replacing the original wooden pier built in 1915.The Scripps Pier is named in honor of Ellen Browning Scripps, the most significant donor and benefactor of the Institution.

The Pier features one of the oldest and largest centers for ocean and earth science research and is home to a variety of sensing equipment above and below water that collects various oceanographic data. The Scripps research diving facility is located at the foot of the pier. Fresh seawater is pumped from the pier to the many tanks and facilities of SIO, including the Birch Aquarium whose mission is to promote ocean conservation.

USA ~Los Angeles~

...Found a whole buch of wonderful cards in my mailbox today...here a great busy looking city view with the mountains on the background...it also shows the tallest building in California and on the West Coast, the US Bank Tower which rises 310m (1,018 ft) tall. Thanks a lot Susan!!

Here we see the tall buildings of the downtown skyline, the 110 freeway that comes from the L.A. Harbor, and the large, low structures of the L.A.Convention Center. The background is the snow capped San Gabriel Mountains.

USA ~Redwoods-California~

Received a great official from the USA (US-853506) today!
... Just look at the size of those trees... Impressive!! The sender wrote that he was arrested and jailed from trying to stop giant trees like these from being cut down...
I must admit, I will never be that brave...

People who will not sustain trees will soon live in a world which cannot sustain people.
-- Bryce Nelson



The coast Redwood was named Sequoia in honor of the Chief "Se-quo-yah" who perfected a phonetic alphabet for his tribe. Many trees grow to a height well above 300 feet-longer than a football field and are over 2.000 years old.

USA ~California-Pacific Coast Highway~

USA ~California-Pacific Coast Highway~
Originally uploaded by gerda_dager

Sent by Swan. The California coastline has many scenic areas where undeveloped hillside landscape meets the Pacific Ocean. All of this scenic beauty can be seen at your own pace on the Pacific Coast Highway.