~ CHINA -Xinjiang Autonomous Region - Mount Bogda - UNESCO~

...Stunning sunset view on the all year round snow covered Bogda mountain...and therefore nicknamed “the sea of snow”...and my fourth UNESCO postcard in a row ㋡...Thanks a lot Nan!!

Photo by Song Shijing Xinjiang, an autonomous region in northwest China, is a vast region of deserts and mountains,   bordering the countries of Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. The ancient Silk Road trade route linking China and the Middle East passed through Xinjiang.

Bogda Peak is the highest mountain in the Bogda Shan range in the eastern Tian Shan Mountains, one of the largest mountain ranges in the world. It has been on the World Natural Heritage List since June 2013.

Stamp:

Dong Architecture
(Issued 02-06-1997)

Special-use stamp for Greeting Cards
(Issued 08-08-2013)

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)

RUSSIA ~ Siberia - Golden Mountains of Altai Republic- Lower Shavlinskoe Lake - UNESCO ~

...the sky and the view...breathtaking scenery... Thanks Oleg!!

Photo: Alexandr Ermolitsky The Altai Republic is a small mountainous republic in Russia, southern Siberia, close to the borders of Mongolia, Kazakhstan and China. It is a spectacularly beautiful and unspoiled land of forests, alpine meadows, and mountain peaks reaching heights of more than 4,500m. The name "Altay" (or "Altai") comes from Mongolian "Altan", which means "golden", and in 1998, UNESCO inscribed five separate natural regions, the "Golden Mountains of Altai", as a World Heritage Site.

The mountains have several undisturbed glaciers and provide the source of main rivers like the Ob. Lower Shavlinskoe Lake is located 5 km away from Upper one at a height of 1725 m. The length is 800 m and the width is 500 m.

The mountains are the habitat of several globally endangered mammals, such as the snow leopard and the Altai argali.



Stamp:
Museum of Wooden Architecture and Folk Art
(Issued 01-08-2011)

CHILE ~Patagonia-Torres del Paine National Park-The Horns of Paine- UNESCO ~

Chile beauty nr 2...breathtaking mountain view...Thanks a lot Hernán!!

The 181,000 hectares of Torres del Paine National Park were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. Torres del Paine lies between the Andes and Patagonian steppe, and is made up of snow-clad mountains, glacier lakes, forests, incredible wildlife  and some of the best hiking tours that Chile has to offer. It also happens to be one of the most beautiful,unique and desolate regions on the planet.

The Horns of Paine, located within the park, have stood here for more than 12 million years, and were formed bu huge glaciers that eroded away the outer sedimentary layer of rock, exposing the inner core of granite.


Second stamp of the series:
3rd Anniversary of the Rescue of the Miners from San Jose mine
and Rapa Nui stamps- Man with painted face

NORWAY ~Børvasstindan-Arctic Norway~

...Breathtaking and imposing mountain views from a magical place...Thanks a lot Jørg!!

With set of great stamps.

©Normanns Kunstforlag-Photo Naia Norskott The impressive peaks of Børvasstindan, over 1,100 metres (3,600 feet) high, the massive mountain range located in Bodo, Nordland that forms the border with Sweden.

Among Børvasstindene peaks are Børtind (1046 m.) and Per Karlsatind (1036 m.), which are popular destinations in the area.

ITALY ~South Tyrol- The Dolemites - UNESCO ~

...Spectacular nature view and from Europe this time^^... Thanks a lot Katrin!

With nice stamp:
Masters of the 20th Century - Federico De Pistoris
(Issued 30-10-2009)

The Peitlerkofel (2813m) is a mountain in the Dolomites in South Tyrol.
The Dolomites are a mountain range located in north-eastern Italy numbering 18 peaks which rise to above 3.000 meteres and cover 141,903 ha. It features some of the most beautiful mountain landscapes anywhere, with vertical walls, sheer cliffs and a high density of narrow, deep and long valleys.

The Autonomous Province of Bolzano-Bozen, also known as South Tyrol, lies at the geographic and cultural crossroads of northern and southern Europe: it is Italy’s northernmost province and borders Switzerland and Austria.
South Tyrol was part of Austria until 1919, when Italy annexed the region. The German-speaking majority struggled for decades to achieve status as an autonomous province within the Italian state. Several Statutes of Autonomy achieved this goal over time: these laws guarantee that German and Italian are both official languages and that South Tyrol can pursue independent economic and political policies.

FRANCE ~Corsica - Gulf of Girolata - UNESCO~

...Last of 6 received postcards sent by Dieter and Eve during their vacation in one of the most beautiful islands...crystal clear azure waters with impressive mountains...Thanks so much for these amazing postcards and sharing it all with me!! ^__^


With the common "Marianne Beaujard" stamp.
 (Issued 01-07-2011)

Girolata is a (quite inaccessible) village and region at the south of the Scandola Nature Reserve in western Corsica, about 35 km north-west from Porto. It falls within the western part of the Corsica Natural Park.The Gulf of Porto-Girolata and the reserve of Scandola have been on the UNESCO world-heriritage list since 1983.

Corsica:
Fiercely independent, the Corsicans speak their own language and fly their own flag, featuring a black Moor’s head with white headband: the “bandiera testa mora”. The language appears to be a mismatch of Italian and French.

FRANCE ~Corsica - Scandola-UNESCO~

...Overwhelming mountain scenery and a deep blue sea... another wonderful postcard from Corsica!! Thanks so much Dieter en Eve!!


 With the common "Marianne Beaujard" stamp.
 (Issued 01-07-2011)

Located along the Gulf of Porto and Girolata, on the north western coast of Corsica, the Scandola Nature Reserve (Reserve Naturelle de Scandola) ranks as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and comes with hidden grottos and inlets, peaceful sandy beaches and remote headlands. located along the Gulf of Porto and Girolata, on the north western coast of Corsica,

SAUDI ARABIA ~ Taif Mountains ~

...Thanks a lot Ian for my first card of Saudi Arabia, an impressive mountain view... ^__^


With nice stamp:
International Translation award stamp
(Issued 2013)

Only an hour from Mecca, Taif is a  town situated at the slope of the Sarawat Mountains. Taif is a beautiful city with both architecture and mountainous views. The city is also popular for the roses, grapes and the honey.

The Sarawat Mountains or the Sarat  is a mountain range running parallel to the western coast of the Arabian Peninsula and is among the Peninsula's most prominent geographical features.

Saudi Arabia is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula. It’s capital and largest city is Riyadh. Saudi Arabia has the world's second largest oil reserves and is the world's second largest oil exporter.

KYRGYZSTAN ~Yurts in the mountains ~

My second amazing card from Kyrgyzstan...with a "yurt" view (that was on my wishlist for a long time)...
the country is home to the world´s 3rd highest mountain range...and I love their flag! ^__^
Thanks soooo much Alexander!!

Great Football stamps:
World Cup 2006 Germany.
(Issued 09.06.06)

Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked republic in the eastern part of Central Asia which is bordered in the north by Kazakhstan, in the east by China, in the south by China and Tajikistan, and in the west by Uzbekistan. Bishkek is the capital and largest city.

A yurt is a traditional Kyrgyzstan dwelling. It is a round shaped construction made of wooden framework covered with felt carpet (koshma). Diameter of a common yurt is 4-9m. It is made of handmade woollen rugs (shirdak). Yurt has a round hole in the middle of roof for ventilation. Lighting is natural (through hole), by lamp, candle or by generator. Yurt is easily folding and portable, it takes 3-4 hours to set up.

LIECHTENSTEIN ~Malbun~

Received my 4 postcard from Liechtenstein...and finally showing something else than "Vaduz Castle"...
I do love all the snowy mountain views, it looks idyllic... on a postcard!! ^__^
...I'm no so fond of snow...we just had a few weeks with snow here in Belgium and immediately there are lots of problems, bad road conditions, buses and train delays... Maybe at a ski resort it all feels different...can't know, I never been to one!! Thanks a lot Ruedi and Sirinya!!

With nice stamp: Castles in Liechtenstein "Schellenberg Ruins" (Issued 14-11-2011)

Malbun is the only resort for skiing in Liechtenstein with 23km piste between 1300-2000m. It is located at 5,200 ft (1,600 metres) above sea level in the Alps and only few kilometers from the Austrian border.

The Sareiserjoch is a mountain ridge near the top of the chairlift from Malbun. It serves as an ideal starting point for skiers and snowboarders to head back down into the valley on the excellent pistes.

FRANCE ~Reunion - Cirque of Mafate~

... Got a new place to ad to my collection!! An amazing and overwhelming nature view of a "paradise" island La Reunion... a breathtaking scenery... ...I had never heard of this island...
The cirque of Mafate must be the ultimate dream destination for walkers...140km hiking trails, no acces with a car... Not many places like this still exist on our planet...
The first card from a new place is always special... so Thanks a million Marion!!:D

It is an overseas department of France, therefrom the French stamps used on the card. Tropical fish stamp "Imperial Angelfish" (issued 25-04-2012)

Reunion Island is a French tropical island located approximately 500 miles from Madagascar. The island features the highest mountain in the Indian Ocean, sparkling waterfalls, lush forests, sandy deserts, deep canyons and the world's most active volcano as well as 17 miles of beaches.

Located in the northwest portion of Reunion Island, the beautiful Cirque de Mafate is totally surrounded by mountains. This rugged and wild cirque is the only one of the island's three natural amphitheatres that's accessible only on foot or by helicopter.

NEW ZEALAND~North Canterbury~

Received two breathtaking views of New Zealand today... Both so different and awesome landscapes...fresh green looking farmland with sheeps and not a house as far as the eye can see... Thanks a lot Kati!!

With interesting stamp:

New Zealand and Samoa share a special relationship that
is underpinned by the 1962 Treaty of Friendship. 2012 marks
50 years of this important partnership, and New Zealand Post
is celebrating with a unique stamp issue.
Each of the stamps features a contemporary view of selu tuiga
or 'head comb' - a traditional Samoan headdress that is worn at important occasions.

An afternoon in North Canterbury with the Kaikoura Mountains in the distance.

Canterbury is New Zealand's largest region by area, with an area of 45,346 km². The region is traditionally bounded in the north by the Conway River and to the west by the Southern Alps. The southern boundary is the Waitaki River.

FRANCE ~Mount Ventoux-UNESCO~

Lovely surprise card from friends holiday...A great view of the Provence’s "giant mount" and its alpine vegetation ...Especially known for its legendary ascent in the famous Tour de France bicycle race...Its fame as a scene of great Tour dramas has made it a magnet for cyclists around the world... Also for Peter and Robin... (I hope you succeeded in riding up Mont Ventoux!!:D) Héééél erg bedankt Familie Maes, Bea en Gust!!

A French definitive stamp with Marianne, a french national symbol.

Mont Ventoux is a mountain in the Provence region of southern France.
The top of the mountain is bare limestone without vegetation or trees, which makes the mountain's barren peak appear from a distance to be snow-capped all year round.
Its biological distinctiveness was recognised by UNESCO in 1990 when the Réserve de Biosphère du Mont Ventoux was created, protecting an area of 810 square kilometres (200,150 acres) on and around the mountain.

KYRGYZSTAN ~The Kyla-Kul Lake~

...This breathtaking nature view is my 1st card received from Kyrgyzstan... I really know nothing at all of this country that seems to have a breathtaking natural beauty... With its vast and unaffected wilderness it is home to the world´s 3rd highest mountain range... In total, there are almost two thousand lakes in the country with a total area of almost 7000 sq. km. Most of them are small mountain lakes...
Thanks a lot!! See Sonja and Travis travelblog click here and follow their amazing journey along the "Silk Road routes".

With lovely stamp from a serie of 4 about Mountain Yaks of Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked and mountainous country located in Central Asia and bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east. Its capital and largest city is Bishkek.Kyrgyzstan is one of the former Soviet Union republics, which declared its independence in 1991.

UKRAINE ~Crimea-Mount Ai-Petri~

Got a stunning card showing an awesome white mountain in the sun against a clear blue sky... and this picture was taken by the sender itself...Thanks a lot Olga!!

With great stamps too!!
Although not Crimea's highest mountain (1,234m), Ai Petri (Saint Peter) is undoubtedly one of the great icons of the peninsula. For many kilometres along Crimea's south coast, its huge rock towers dominate the scene, rising abruptly from the magnificent lower slopes of natural pine forest. It's certainly one of the most spectacular, with its sparkling white limestone peak and its jagged `teeth'.
The peak is actually the weathered remains of a huge coral reef formed millions of years ago, when this area was under the sea, and although the limestone here is exceptionally dense - hence its longevity - fossils have been found in the rocks.

USA ~Mount Shuksan~

Great snowy mountain view...The back of the card says:"Winter alpenglow on Mount Shuksan from Picture Lake" (US-1261159) By seeing this postcard I understand why Shuksan is one of the more often photographed mountains in the Cascade Range!! Thanks Arianne!!
And with sooooo many lovely stamps!!

The defining features of The North Cascades' are its impressive mountains including Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, and Mount Shuksan; several National Wilderness Areas and National Recreation Areas, Ross and Chelan lakes and the rugged North Cascades National Park.

JAPAN ~Mt Fuji ~

This is an amazing view of a sunrise on Mount Fuji, a stunning red glow!! The name of the card is "The Goddes Mountain at dusk"... Seeing the sun rise above Mount Fuji is a symbol of good luck.(I hope this also applies for seeing it on postcards!!!:D:D Thanks Mari!

Great stamps too!

Mount Fuji is with 3776 meters Japan's highest mountain. It is not surprising that the nearly perfectly shaped volcano has been worshipped as a sacred mountain and experienced big popularity among artists and common people.

JAPAN ~Mt Fuji and Lake Yamanaka~

Wonderful mountain view in an amazing blue sky... with the added touch of a rainbow... I think I would have liked it even more without that "added" rainbow... (JP-154928)
Love the cute stamp too!!

Mount Fuji is with 3776 meters Japan's highest mountain. It is not surprising that the nearly perfectly shaped volcano has been worshipped as a sacred mountain and experienced big popularity among artists and common people.

Lake Yamanaka is located near the base of Mt Fuji with its unobstructed views of Mt Fuji mean it is a very popular location to view and photograph Mt Fuji. Lake Yamanaka is part of Fuji Five Lakes system and is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

CHINA ~Sister Peaks~

Great card about a really speciale project of which I never heard before: " Sister Peaks"... Very interesting!!
It is a prepaid postcard!

From the back of the card:
Lijiang is a rare exception of human and nature's harmonicus coexistence in today's world. Zermatt (Switserland), a small paradise highly developed while free from industrial pollution. In 2001, Yulong Snow Mountain of Lijiang and Matterhorn Switserland were designated as sister peaks. In 2005, Switseralnd Matterhorn Dreamland was founded at the foot of Yulong to honor the relationship, and to display the commonalities of coexisting approaches for humans and nature in the two places.