DR Congo ~Garamba National Park - UNESCO ~

...No better way to start the week than with this little gem ♥...new country! new national park! new UNESCO site!...just an amazing view... but so sad to read on the Internet that civil war, unrest and the prevalence of highly militarised terrorist groups within the park have placed it under immense pressure, with rampant ivory and bushmeat poaching having a devastating impact on wildlife population...
Thanks a million Maick!!☺ (A Journey of Postcards )

Garamba National Park, located in the north-eastern corner of the DR of Congo was established in 1938. One of Africa's oldest National parks, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. Garamba is (or at least was) the home to the world's last known wild population of Northern White Rhinoceros. Due to poaching of the rhinos within the park, it was added to the list of World Heritage in Danger in 1996.

From backside postcard:
The park's immense Savannah's, grasslands and woodlands interspersed with gallery forests along the river banks and the swampy depressions, are home to four large mammals: the elephant, giraffe, hippopotamus and above all the white rhinoceros. Though much larger than the black rhino, it is harmless; only some 30 individuals remain...

Stamp:

Joseph Kabila
(Issued 25-10-2002)

GERMANY ~ Northern Friesland - Wadden Sea National Park - UNESCO~

...A lovely map card showing an important part of "The Wadden Sea" the largest unbroken system of intertidal sand and mud flats in the world (Germany, Netherlands and Denmark)...Thanks a lot Gerald!!

Northern Friesland" or "North Frisia", is a district in Schleswig-Holstein.

The entire coastal region is part of the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park.

 Northern Friesland includes the coastal section between Dithmarschen and Denmark. In the south is the Eiderstedt peninsula, where the River Eider meets the sea.The North Frisian Islands are also part of it  and located inside the national park as well.

There are five large islands (Sylt, Föhr, Amrum, Pellworm and Nordstrand) and ten smaller islets known as Halligen.

Stamps:

Flowers
(Issued 09-10-2008)
Art - Paintings by Udo Lindenberg
(Issued 01-07-2010)

SRI LANKA ~ Polonnaruwa -Council Chamber of King Nissankamalla - UNESCO~

...Great new view of the impressing ancient Buddhist city ruins of Polonnaruwa... Sri Lankan amazing architecture dating back to 12th Century AD...Many thanks once again Ravindra!!【ツ】

Photo: Roelof Munneke Polonnaruwa is the second most ancient city of Sri Lanka's kingdoms and the first declared capital city by King Vijayabahu I. Today the ancient city of Polonnaruwa remains one of the best planned archaeological relic sites in the country, showing the grandeur of the first rulers.

The monument of the council Chamber of King Nissankamala (1187-1196) is situated in the Royal garden. The massive lion Figure made of stone at the Southern end of the building was the throne of the King as shown by the inscription under its belly.

 The ancient city of Polonnaruwa has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1982.

Stamp:

Solar System-Uranus
(Issued 05-12-2014)

INDIA ~Sundarbans National Park - UNESCO ~

First of three fantastic National parks postcards...this one is showing the National Animal of India, the Royal Bengal Tiger also called the lord of Jungles....more to see here in the following days...Thanks a lot kbdessai!!

Photo Rajika Travels From backside postcard:
Surdanbans National Park, the largest estuarine mangrove forest in the world is a National Park, Tiger reserve, UNESCO WHS and a Biosphere Reserve located in the Sundarbans Ganges river delta bordering the Bay of Bengal in West Bengal. It is also on the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserve.

The Sundarbans as a whole encompasses 10.000km² of land and water, about 5.980km² in India and the balance in Bangladesh. The entire basin is traversed by a complex network of interconnecting waterways. This region is densely covered by mangrove forests, and is one of the largest reserves for the Bengal tiger. It is also home to a variety of birds, reptile and invertebrate species including the salt-water crocodile.

:
Stamps:
1. Mahatma Gandhi
(Issued 01-03-2009)
2. The 50th Anniversary of the KVS
 (Issued 15-12-2014)
3.The 100th Anniversary of the Patna High Court
(Issued 18-04-2015)

BELGIUM ~Shrimp Fishermen on horseback - UNESCO ~

After an empty mailbox for over a week I got this wonderful surprise today...Belgium is the only place in the world that still holds this 500-year-old tradition of fishermen and horses working together to find our sea true delicious shrimps...with beautiful special cancellation...Big Thanks to postcard friend Johan!!❣◕ ‿ ◕❣

The shrimp fishing takes place at low tide, both in summer and in winter, for about two hours, one hour before and one hour after low water. The fishermen, clad in traditional southwester, bright yellow oilskins and rubber waders, climb into the saddle. A brief word of command, the lines between collar and net tighten and off they go. Breast deep in water, the horses advance at a steady pace, often side by side, dragging the nets up which scoop up both wanted and unwanted prey from the bottom. From time to time, the fishermen and his mount leave the water to empty the net and to put the contents into two wicker baskets fixed on each side of the horse.

Usually the horse is a robust stallion of the Brabant or Hainaut breed, for this work requires exceptional strength and powers of resistance.

In December 2013 UNESCO recognized shrimp fishing on horseback as intangible cultural heritage.

Stamp:

Shrimp Fisherman on horseback.
(Issued 29-06-2015)

VIETNAM ~Khải Định Tomb - Hue - UNESCO ~

View of the most majestic imperial tomb of the country... architecturally and historically...another great postcard sent by Benny, thanks!!!

The Tomb of Khải Định is located in Chau Chu mountain near Huế in Vietnam. It was built for the Nguyễn Emperor Khải Định and it took 11 years to complete,  from 1920 to 1931. The site is located on a steep hill.

The structure of the tomb is of concrete elements with cement, a blend of Western and Eastern architecture.

Compared to other emperor tombs in Hue, Khải Định Tomb is much smaller. At the entrance, one should climb a 37 steps gate with dragons as side walls. Some 30 steps further one arrives at the imperial audience court, with an octagonal steel monument, again made of reinforced concrete. On both sides of the courtyard, there are two rows of statues facing towards the center, together with other statues representing bodyguard soldiers. These statues are made of stone, not in concrete, which is rare in Khai Dinh Tomb.

Stamps:

Architecture - Landscape of Vietnam -One-pillar Pagoda
(Issued 16-01-2012 )
Architecture - Landscape of Vietnam - Bridge Pagoda
(Issued 16-01-2012)

GREECE ~ Westside of the Parthenon - UNESCO ~

...Beautiful view of the most famous surviving building of Ancient Greece and one of the most famous buildings in the world....Thanks a lot Rod!!

The Parthenon is a former temple on the Athenian Acropolis, dedicated to the goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their patron. Construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power. It was completed in 438 BC although decoration of the building continued until 432 BC.

It is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece, generally considered the highlight of the Doric order. Its decorative sculptures are considered some of the high points of Greek art.

The Parthenon is regarded as an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece, Athenian democracy and western civilization.


Stamp:
 Railways of Greece - Trains
(Issued30-03-2015)

GUATEMALA ~Lake Atitlán - UNESCO~

“Gorgeous looking view of one of the most beautiful lakes in the world...Thanks Alé!

Photo © M. Cattelan Lake Atitlán with its surface of 130 sq. km is the third largest freshwater lake in Guatemala. It is situated in the district of Sololá in the western highlands of Guatemala. The lake is approx. 18 km wide and 10 km long and lies at an altitude of 1,562 m. It is surrounded by three volcanoes: Atitlán (3,537 m), Tolimán (3,158 m) and San Pedro (2,995 m), which compose an imposing panorama around the highland lake.

Lake Atitlán lies in a crater, created by a great eruption of a volcano, the Chocoyos Eruption, approx. 85,000 years ago. As there is no outlet, the water level rose over the past years through the inlets of the principal rivers of the basin. The deepest point detected is approximately 340 m.

It has been selected as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The word "atitlan" is a Mayan word that translates as "the place where the rainbow gets its colors." Indigenous communities live around the lake and more than forty archaeological sites have been identified.


Stamps:
The fight against discrimination
(Issued 06-08-2014)
Gastronomy - Food
(Issued 04-03-2014)

AUSTRALIA ~MACQUARIE ISLAND -King Penguins-UNESCO~

...Another little gem to add to my collection...a heaven for wildlife, penguins everywhere..the landscape is shaped by water and wind...great stamps and awesome cancellation...Thanks a million Rod  for this fantastic and unique surprise!!

Photo Barend Becker From the backside:
King Penguins are the second largest penguin in the world and the largest on Macquarie Island. The breeding cycle takes approximately 14 months to complete, a successful pair will breed twice every 3 years.

World heritage listed Macquarie Island Nature Reserve, located approx. 1500km south-east of Tasmania is proudly managed by the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, with support from the Australian Antarctic Program.

Stamps:
Bicentenary of Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island Cabbage Flower -Southern Elephant Seal
(Issued 26-10-2010)

1911-1914 Australian Antarctic Expedition
Arrival and exploration 1912
(Issued 04-09-2012)

SRI LANKA ~Horton Plains National Park - UNESCO ~

...Great nature view...this postcard shows one of the world best nature reserves and eco tourism venues...Thanks a lot Ravindra...Wish you all the Best for 2015 ♥

Horton Plains National Park is a protected area in the central highlands of Sri Lanka and is covered by montane grassland and cloud forest. This plateau at an altitude of 2,100–2,300 metres, is rich in biodiversity and home to an extraordinary range of flora and fauna, including several endangered species such as the western-purple-faced langur, the Horton Plains slender loris and the Sri Lankan leopard.

This region was designated a national park in 1988. It is also a popular tourist destination.


Stamp:

From a set of 6 stamps which commemorated the Pigeon Island Marine National Park.(see 2 other stamps of this series)
(Issued 22-08-2014)

CURACAO ~Willemstad - UNESCO~

...most likely  the last new place to add to my collection in 2014 ( nr 159)...a Caribbean tropical paradise... also with a selection great stamps used!! Many Thanks to friends Karel and Nicole!! :)

Willemstad (the capital of  Curaçao)  historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site features unique colonial architecture  and include  seventeenth- and eighteenth-century merchants' houses on Handelskade, in the Punda area.The city is divided into two neighbourhoods, Otrobanda and Punda, located on either side of the canal.

The Queen Juliana bridge is a four-lane road arch bridge crossing the St. Anna Bay.Reaching a height of 56.4 m (185 ft) above the waterline at its apex, it is the highest bridge in the entire Caribbean. The bridge is 500 m (1,400 ft) long and weighs a total of 3,400 tons. It was opened in 1974 and named after Queen Juliana, who at that time was the reigning queen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

With nice stamps!

POLAND ~Białowieża Forest - UNESCO ~

...Great  map and native animal postcard... one of the 10 top tourist attractions in Poland... a remnant of untouched wilderness... Thanks a lot Ania!!

Bialowieza Forest is an ancient woodland dating back to 8000BC that straddles the border between two countries – Poland and Belarus. It is one of the last and largest remaining parts of the immense primeval forest that once stretched across the European Plain.

Situated on the watershed of the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea, this immense forest range, consisting of evergreens and broad-leaved trees, (pine, beech, oak, alder and spruce are found in the forest) is also home to some remarkable animal life, including rare mammals such as the wolf, the lynx and the otter, as well as some 300 European Bison, a species which has been reintroduced into the park.


Stamp:
2014 Winter Olympics - Sochi, Russia
(Issued 07-02-2014)

ETHIOPIA ~The Simien Mountains National Park - UNESCO~

...African beauty nr 2 coming from a really "Hard to Get country"... once again a little gem... one more ticked off my missing countries list☺...  and with so many wonderful stamps used ... Thank a million Kate!!

View of the Chennek path on the most beautiful peak in the Simien mountains, the Imet Gogo. (3.925M)
Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa. Ethiopia is bordered by Eritrea to the north, Djibouti and Somalia to the east, Sudan and South Sudan to the west, and Kenya to the south.

Simien Mountains National Park is one of the National Parks of Ethiopia. Located in the Semien (North) Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, its territory covers the Simien Mountains and includes Ras Dashan, the highest point in Ethiopia.It is home to a number of extremely rare species, including the Ethiopian wolf, Gelada monkeys, and the Walia Ibex, a wild goat found nowhere else in the world.

The country is a land of natural contrasts, with waterfalls and volcanic hot springs. Ethiopia has some of Africa's highest mountains as well as some of the world's lowest points below sea level. It has the largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa.

Great stamps: (From left to right)
Black Rhinoceros
(Issued 20-06-2005)
Menelik's Bushbuck
(Issued 12-12-2002)
Monuments of Addis Ababa
(Issued 05-07-2012)
Surma Nationalities Hairstyles
(Issued 28-08-2005)
Menelik´s Bushbuck
(Issued 19-06-2000)

TANZANIA ~Serengeti National Park - Elephants - UNESCO

..fantastic  postcard showing one of the most impressive, majestic animals on earth...with great matching stamps of this "gentle giants"...  I saw on facebook a request  about donating some money to a charity called 'Hearts in Unity' and then receiving a postcard written by a Tanzanian child as a thank you.... I couldn't resist this offer, and the money went to a good cause anyway ♥...Thanks a lot Exaud-Amani... a 13 years old boy and a student in class six.

Photo © Javed Jaffarji The Serengeti is Tanzania's oldest and most popular national park, also a world heritage site and recently proclaimed a 7th world wide wonder. It is a wilderness area in Africa with a unique ecosystem and  its name meaning “endless plains” in the Maasai indigenous language, Maa. The Serengeti is best known for being home to the largest terrestrial mammal migration in the world, which has been called one of the natural travel wonders of the world.

The African elephant is the largest mammal on earth. Elephants live in woodlands, forests, deserts and savanna, spread across 37 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Today, there are an estimated 450,000 - 700,000 African elephants.

With over 2000 elephants living in the Serengeti National Park, you are almost sure to see them while on safari.


Stamps:
Wild Animals of Africa
(Issued 28-10-2010)

USA ~Glacier Bay National Park-Alaska-UNESCO

...A spectacular sight...and a wonderful new whale card for my collection... Many Thanks Edvard!!

Photos by Meldren Anderson and Trevor Kirschhoff Backside card: A humpback whale traverses the icy waters of Glacier Bay.
Glacier Bay is a Humpback Whale sanctuary. In the park's waters, Humpback Whales benefit from some of the strongest protections found anywhere on our planet.

The marine wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve includes tidewater glaciers, snow-capped mountain ranges, ocean coastlines, deep fjords, freshwater rivers and lakes.

When Captain George Vancouver surveyed Southeast Alaska in 1794, the wall of ice that filled the bay was (at its greatest extent) 100 miles long, 20 miles wide, and 4,000 feet thick. Just 250 years later, this same ice has retreated 65 miles, the fastest glacial retreat on record...

Set of lovely stamps with special National Park's cancellation!

 At nearly all of the 401 American National Park units (and many of the National Park Service's affiliated areas), one or more National Park Passport Stamps (cancellation stamps) can be acquired at no cost at park visitor centers and ranger stations.

Italy ~The Langhe-Piedmont - La Morra - UNESCO ~

Breathtaking scenery...one of "best small towns" in Italy...famous for wine lovers...Thanks a lot Gian Luca!!

Photo by Losinno The Langhe is a hilly area in the province of Cuneo in Piedmont, northern Italy.  It is in these lands that one of the world's finest wines is produced, the Barolo. It is also famous for its cheeses, and truffles—particularly the white truffles of Alba.

La Morra is a town in a beautiful panoramic position, with views of the Langhe and Alps with a medieval layout. In Piazza Castello there is a spectacular viewpoint of the surrounding hills. The parish church of S. Martin, the municipal towers of 173 and a Baroque style bell tower, are worth visiting. In the Annunziata hamlet there is the Museum Ratti dei Vini di Alba, relative to the history and techniques of oenology and viticulture.

Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato became a UNESCO WHS in 2014


Stamp:
Sport - Nordic World Ski Championships
(Issued 01-02-2013)

IRAN ~Treasury - The Levee Stone Figure-Persepolis-Shiraz - UNESCO~

Card 2 coming from Iran...had to wait for over 6 years to get another one^^...a beautiful relief from one of the world’s most magnificent and unique archaeological sites... Big Thanks David (see his travel pictures here)!!

Photo Davood Vakilzadeh The Treasury of Persepolis belongs to the oldest building phase of Persepolis.
Shown on the postcard: a close-up of a Relief in the eastern portico of a Courtyard depicting King Darius Seated on a Throne with His Son Xerxes Standing Behind Him.

Persepolis , literally meaning "city of Persians", was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (ca. 550–330 BC). Persepolis is situated 70 km northeast of city of Shiraz in the Fars Province in Iran. The earliest remains of Persepolis date from around 515 BC. It exemplifies the Achaemenid style of architecture. The ruins which where excavated in the forties by German archaeologists, exclusively served as a sacred place of ceremonies. Persepolis was later destroyed by Alexander the Great (332 B.C.) and the Arabs, however many of the buildings are well preserved and have been reconstructed.

UNESCO declared the citadel of Persepolis a World Heritage Site in 1979..

Stamp:
Prepaid postcard (matching stamp)
Definitive, Persian Alphabet
(Issued 2014 )

INDONESIA ~Komodo National Park - UNESCO ~

 ..Fantastic view of an enormous pre-historic looking animal...the experience of getting face to face with such a creature must be amazing... Thanks a lot Jennifer!!

Photo Ⓒ Michael Lane From backside card:
The most remarkable inhabitant of Komodo National Park is the Komodo Lizard. These giant lizards, existing no-where else in the world, are of great scientific interest, especially for their evolutionary implications. Most commonly known as "Komodo Dragons", due to its appearance and aggressive behavior, the Komodo Lizard, is the largest living species of lizard, growing to an average length of 2 to 3 meters

The Komodo National Park is located within the Lesser Sunda Islands. The park includes the three larger islands Komodo, Padar and Rinca, and 26 smaller ones, with a total area of 1,733 km². The national park was founded in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard. Later it was dedicated to protecting other species, including marine species.

In 1991 the national park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Komodo National Park has been selected as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Stamps:
General Elections
(Issued 09-01-2014)
Year of the Rabbit
(Issued 25-01-2011)

GUATEMALA ~ Antigua - UNESCO ~

 Fantastic view of the famous Antigua arch, one of the cities most known landmarks...nowadays Antigua is a quiet university town in the heart of Guatemala... Thanks Alé!

The Santa Catalina Arch, arch is what remains from a tunnel that linked the two buildings to its left and right. Originally constructed to allow cloistered nuns to travel from a convent to a school without stepping outdoors.

A carpet made from flowers, plants, pine needles, dyed sawdust and sand, typical of Semana Santa (Holy Week)  that line the routes of the processions with  designs of Spanish and Mayan traditional images.

Antigua Guatemala  is a city in the central highlands of Guatemala famous for its well-preserved Spanish Baroque influenced architecture as well as a number of spectacular ruins of colonial churches.  It was founded in the early 16th century, 1,500 m above sea-level, in an earthquake-prone region.
Antigua  town is as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979.

 © Photo José M. González

Stamps:
Animals in danger of extinction.                  Baktun Maya Calender                                                                                      
(Issued 04-07-2014)                                            (Issued 17-12-2012)                                  

POLAND ~Auschwitz-Birkenau - UNESCO ~

...I can only imagine the feeling you would get walking throughout this place....two of the most tragic sites in Europe... Thanks Magda!!
"THE ONE WHO DOES NOT REMEMBER HISTORY  IS BOUND TO LIVE THROUGH IT AGAIN"                                                            George Santayana quote at the Auschwitz Museum

From the back of card 1:
Initially, whole Jewish families were marched for some two kilometres on foot to the gas chambers.
From 1944, transports were brought straight to the crematoriums.

Stamps:
Signs of the Zodiac
(Issued 10-07-1996)
Polish cities-Sieradz
(Issued 29-07-2005)

From the back of card 2:
In Auschwitz-Birkenau 5 crematoriums with gas chambers were in operation. 6-7 kilograms of Cyclone B gas was enough tot kill about 1500 people within just over a dozen minutes.

It is estimated that around 1.6 million people were killed in the Auschwitz camps.
While Auschwitz was built for labor, Birkenau was built for extermination.

A Martyrdom Museum was set up here in 1947, and in 1979 Auschwitz-Birkenau was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage sites