POLAND ~ Wawel Cathedral - Krakow - UNESCO ~

... First of 4 great Polish postcards👍... and indeed my first ever from "Krakow"😉... this one shows Poland's most important national sanctuary... the cathedral attached to Poland's royal castle is huge and impressive, especially the tombs are fantastic... it holds a special place in the history of the Polish State due to the fact that it was the church of Polish kings for 400 years... the most important state ceremonies: coronations, weddings, baptisms and funeral ceremonies of Polish royalty were celebrated at Wawel Cathedral’s High Altar... a special place in the Pantheon of Kracow bishops is due to Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, who was raised to the highest Church dignity and became the spiritual father of the entire world as Pope John Paul II...  In 2008 his monument was built, facing the entrance to Wawel Cathedral... with wonderful  minisheet depicting Pope Francis❤️...   Big Thanks Dustin!!【ツ】

"We are all well aware that to enter this Cathedral can not be without emotion. More I say, you can not enter it without the internal tremor, without fear because it contains in it – as in almost no Cathedral of the world – the enormous size, which speaks to us in all our history, our entire past." ________________________________________ Kardynał Karol Wojtyła 8 March 1964

Krakow is located in the south east of Poland founded in 1257 and has always been one of Poland's most important cities and important cultural and educational centers. Until 1609 Kracow was the Polish capital, when it was moved to the more central Warsaw.

The Wawel Cathedral ( Katedra Wawelska), is a Roman Catholic church located atop of Wawel Hill. The building you see is the third church on this site, consecrated in 1364. The present-day cathedral  is basically a Gothic structure but chapels in different styles were built around it later.

In 1978 the entire old town was named UNESCO site.

Stamp:

World Youth Day  - Joint Issue with Vatican City
(Issued 10-05-2016)

ALBANIA ~ Butrint National Park - UNESCO ~

... Beautiful view of one of the greatest archaeological sites in the Adriatic region... an ancient city which was inhabited since prehistoric times, spanning an era of 2.500 years... you can see a wide range of sites, including ruins from the Bronze Age, Venetian castles, a basilica and ancient Roman theatre which seats over 2500 people... it is still used from time to time for events... some of the found artefactsc from the iron and middle ages can be seen in the museum which is located within the castle... the ruins are nestled in the forest with bright blue waters surrounding it... it is the most visited cultural tourist destination in the country... Thanks a lot Monika!【ツ】

The Amphitheatre was discovered in 1928-30 and was originally built in a Greek style. It was used by worshippers and priests of the Sanctuary for religious ceremonies and public discussions. The theatre was then rebuilt and enlarged in the 2nd century AD in the Roman style and was the centerpiece of the town.

Butrint is an archaeological site and National Park located in a small peninsula between the Straits of Corfu and Butrint Lake in the far south of Albania. The site is situated near Ksamil, a beautiful, small, touristic coastal village.

The Butrint National Park spreads on a 29-sq-km comprises a high diversity of natural, semi-natural and artificial habitats, such as freshwater marshes, reed beds, Mediterranean forests and maquis, arable lands and fruit-tree terraces, as well as coastal waters with rocky and sandy coasts and open halophytic lands.These habitats shelter a high diversity of animals and plants.

Butrint was designated in 1992 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Stamp:

The 190th Anniversary of the First Locomotive
(Issued 27-09-2015)

INDIA ~ Valley of Flowers National Park - UNESCO ~

... A blossomy breathtaking valley surrounded by the mighty Himalayas...a variety of wild flowers, which appear as a bright carpet of color against a backdrop of the mountains... the meadows are filled with orchids, poppies, marigold, daisies, primulas and anemones of nearly 520 species of which 498 are flowering plants.......for miles and miles on all four directions, there are flowers🌼🌹🥀....  with exotic floral scents... the Valley of Flowers is only open from the beginning of June until the end of October... pure and untouched nature at its best... the magnificent Valley of Flowers has been a major attraction for trekkers from all over world... once more a stunning new place discovered thanks to *postcard* collecting❤️👍... Thanks a lot Nithesh!❀◕ ‿ ◕❀

© Photo: Natalia Davidovich
The Valley of Flowers National Park is in located northern India's state of Uttarakhand, bordered by Nepal and Tibet. It was declared a national park in 1982.

This valley is situated at an altitude 3.658m in Bhyundar Valley. It's spread over 87.5 square kilometers. The main Valley of Flowers is a glacial corridor of 8km long and 2km wide.

This richly diverse area is also home to rare and endangered animals, including the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, musk deer, brown bear, red fox, and blue sheep. Birds found in the park include Himalayan monal pheasant and other high attitude birds.

Declared as World Heritage Site in 2005 by UNESCO.

Stamps:

2016 Definitives - Makers of India January
(Issued -- 01-2016)

 Handicrafts of India
(Issued 31-12-2018)

BELARUS ~ Nesvish Castle and Park Complex - UNESCO

...  Great aerial view of the countries most beautiful palace according to the people of Belarus... Nesvizh Palace is on the Nesvizh Estate, one of the oldest settlements and most famous places... an island-type impressive complex constructed on a hill... it consists of a palace with landscape gardens and a church... its richly diverse architecture and attractive gardens make it one of the most popular tourist attractions... the castle is nicely renovated, well preserved and houses a museum, hotel and restaurant... it's really huge with many interesting rooms, beautiful decorations and furniture... a place with a lot of political and cultural history... also the landscaping of the surrounding area is lovely with ornamental lakes... with nice UNESCO stamp...Thanks Natalia!【ツ】

The estate and town was acquired by the Radziwil family in the middle of the 16thC, and they stayed there until 1939 when they were expelled by the invading Red Army. The foundation stone of Nesvizh Palace was laid in 1584. It was rebuilt many times and as a consequence has features of many architectural styles including: Renaissance Baroque Rococo Classicism Neo-gothic Modernism.

From 1494, the palace was owned by the Kiszka family, and by that time, it was a small palace. In 1513, one of the family members - Anna Kiszka married to Ian Radzwill, and that is how they became the owners of Nesvizh Castle.

In 2005 the Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Stamp:

The 60th Anniversary of Belarus' Entry into UNESCO
(14-04-2014)

HUNGARY ~ Parliament - Budapest - UNESCO ~

... Beautiful view of one of the most iconic sights in Eastern Europe... a gorgeous and impressive architectural gem in a great location... the domed neo-Gothic structure was inspired by the British House of Parliament... it serves as a vibrant government center and a proud city landmark on the banks of the Danube river.... it's the tallest buildings in Budapest as well as the third largest national assembly building in the world... covering an area of 18.000 square meters, the building has 691 rooms, 28 entrances, 10 courtyards and 29 staircases... the interior is ornate and very interesting... a must visit when in Budapest for it's architecture and the history behind it... attracting nearly 700.000 visitors each year... Thanks a lot Andrene! (✿ ♥‿♥) so nice to hear from you... enjoy your tour in Europe!😊

Ⓒ Photo:Huber Pál
Inaugurated in 1904, the Parliament of Budapest, or "the Országházis" is designed by the Hungarian architect Imre Steindl who ironically went blind before its completion, leaving him unable to appreciate his finished masterpiece.

Construction started in 1885 but nearly 20 years later his eyesight had significantly deteriorated and he passed away on October 8, 1902, just weeks before the building was fully completed. However, a further two years was spent finalizing its inner works and decoration.

Budapest, including the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue became a UNESCO WHS site in 1987. The Budapest World Heritage Site consists of three parts:

1. Buda Castle Quarter This holds the city's medieval sites, with Buda Castle. Also there are the remains of the original Roman town Aquincum.
2. Banks of the Danube This includes the Parliament (1884-1904) and the suspension bridge (1849). 3. Andrássy Avenue The extension with Andrássy Avenue in the year 2000 included the Opera, Millennium Park and the Underground Railway.

Stamp:

Greetings Stamps
(Issued 22-01-2016)

LAOS ~ Le Calao - Luang Prabang - UNESCO ~

... Pretty evening view of a unique building that now hosts Le Calao restaurant located on the Mekong Riverside... one of the first hotels in Luang Prabang opened in 1996... it was originally built in 1904 by a Chinese trader from Macau, for use as a private house... the building was originally constructed with a strong Portugese influence in its architecture during the French Colonial Period... by the 1990s, the abandoned building had fallen into a derelict condition and was almost destroyed... but now it's beautifully renovated... this former house has been declared as one of the protected World Heritage buildings in Luang Prabang.... Le Calao offers a top quality Laotian, ethnic and international dishes, but with a signature focus on Laotian cuisine... Thank you Jobbo!【ツ】No comments about the food in this restaurant??? that surprises me!😉😃

Luang Prabang is located in north central Laos, on the Mekong River. Until the communist takeover in 1975, it was the royal capital and seat of government of the Kingdom of Laos.

Luang Prabang originated as a defended royal administrative complex, with adjacent temples and monasteries. The Town is noticed for its special form of urban development, partly traditional Lao and partly colonial.

In 1995 Luang Prabang was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Stamp:

National Vaccination Day
(Issued 03-01-1997)

ITALY ~ Il Palio - Sienna - UNESCO ~

... Great view of the unique Il Palio horse race... the most famous Tuscany's horse race and one of Italy's most spectacular and best known festivals... this colorful horse event has been taking place in this stunning town since medieval times, twice a year... 2nd July to honour the Madonna of Provenzano and 16th August to honour the Virgin Mary’s Assumption... locals spend most of the year planning for it... it is fast and dangerous and the duration is no longer than 90 seconds... the first horse to reach the end line wins with or without the jockey... it is an important event for locals, both in culture and in tourism... the Palio can see crowds upwards of 40.000... Thanks a lot Gian Luca and Raffaella!❁◕ ‿ ◕❁ 

ⒸRotalSele Sienna is located in the central part of Tuscany, in the middle of a vast hilly landscape between the Arbia river valley, the Merse valley, the Elsa valley, the Chianti hills, the Montagnola Senese, the Crete Senesi and is the capital of the province of Siena.

Ten of Sienna’s 17 town districts, or contrade, compete for the coveted palio, a silk banner. Each has its own traditions, symbol and colours, as well as its own church and palio museum.The Corteo Storico is a long-running tradition that predates the Palio and is part of the colorful pageantry that happens in the build-up to the race.

The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site since 1995.

Stamp:

Italian Squares
(Issued 02-07-2016)

ITALY ~ Assisi - UNESCO ~

... Beautiful views of an exceptionally well-preserved medieval town... located on the rolling hills of Umbria... it was already a sacred place in Roman times but has been associated with Saint Francis since the 13thC... Assisi was his birthplace, and he founded the Franciscan religious order here in 1208.... a tranquil picturesque place dominated by the Franciscan Order and its many churches, monasteries, and other structures, among them the huge Basilica of San Francesco on the edge of town...  today, it is the second most important of Italy's pilgrimage sites after Rome... the pilgrims and most of the tourists come to Assisi for its religious monuments.... nuns and monks are a common sight on the streets... there are also plenty of crafts, souvenir, and local specialty shops... Thanks a lot Gian Luca and Raffaella! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Photo: Giorgio Filippini  Assisi is a medieval town in Umbria town on the western flank of Monte Subasio. It is an important place because of its art, its architecture and its history.

Assisi's history is thought to have begun in 1.000 BC, when it is believed to have first grown up as an Umbrian settlement. As a Roman colony, Assisi was known as Asisium. In the early 1500s, Assisi did once again come under the control of the Papacy. in 1860, the town became part of the newly created Kingdom of Italy.

In 1997, Assisi was struck by violent earthquakes. Its famous Basilica di San Francesco was damaged, while several frescoes in the basilica's vault were destroyed. Thanks to some rather rapid conservation work, it has largely been returned to its former glory, reopening to the public just two years after the event.

 Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco and Other Franciscan Sites was made into a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2000. The designated area also includes four Franciscan sites outside central Assisi: Le Carceri, San Damiano, Rivotorto and Santa Maria degli Angeli.

Stamp:

Matera - European Capital of Culture
(Issued 04-03-2019)

CANADA ~ Mistaken Point - New Foundland - UNESCO ~

... After a short "hiatus"🙃 in blogging due to way to hot weather and a few computer problems I'm back with a bunch of Canadian beauties💚... this postcard shows a group on a guided hike exploring Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve... you can walk on strange ancient rocks and view the place where life began... along scattered pathways of rocks, bays and shorelines overlooking the wide-open ocean... this site is the only place in the world where you can find fossils preserved by volcanic ash of 565 million year-old😲 animals of deep marine origin... Thanks a lot Glenn!【ツ】must have been a fascinating place to visit... more to come!!👍

Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve is located at the south-eastern tip of the island of Newfoundland, in eastern Canada.The site was first discovered in 1967

It covers a total land area of 146 ha with a buffer zone of 74 ha and consists of a narrow, 17 km-long strip of rugged coastal cliffs.

 The name "Mistaken Point" apparently comes from past shipwreck events in the area due to sailors mistaking this point for another and the difficultly of navigating in the treacherous waters surrounding the point (over fifty ships are known to have been wrecked in the area).

Mistaken Point is a natural UNESCO World Heritage Site in Canada since 2016.


Photo: Ned Pratt

Stamps:

Fauna - Bears
(24-07-2019)

HUNGARY ~ Tokaj-Hegyalja Wine Region - UNESCO ~

....Great views of one of Europe's oldest Wine Regions... the cultural landscape of Tokaj demonstrates the long tradition of wine production in this region of low hills and river valleys... Tokaj is only one of 28 towns and villages in the the Tokaj-Hegyalja region, each with their own wineries..... but it was here it once started back in the 15thC... Hungarian Tokaj was served at Versailles and became a favourite of Louis XV, King of France.... this Region is legendary for one of the world’s best natural sweet desert wines, Tokaji Aszú... there are plenty of vineyards, farms, small towns, medieval castles, nature trails and gourmet restaurants to explore... the region is most famous for its 3.000 wine cellars... Thanks a lot Bori!¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Tokaj wine region  or Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region  is a historical wine region located in northeastern Hungary and southeastern Slovakia. It is also one of the seven larger wine regions of Hungary.

Hegyalja means "foothills" in Hungarian, and this was the original name of the region. It consists of 28 named villages and 11,149 hectares of classified vineyards, of which an estimated 5,500 are currently planted.

The area has been protected since 1737, when it was declared an exclusive wine area by a royal decree, the first example of such a provision in the world.

The Tokaj Wine Region was recognized by UNESCO for its importance to the common cultural heritage of humanity. It was listed as a protected cultural landscape by the World Heritage Committee in 2002.

There are 7 sites in this World Heritage:
Tokaj Wine Region
Ungvári Wine Cellar
Rákóczi Wine Cellar
Koporosi Cellars
Gomboshegyi Cellars
Oremus Cellars
Tolcsva Wine Museum Cellars

Stamps:

Working Dogs
(Issued 08-07-2019)

Christmas
(Issued 31-10-2003)

2018 Heroes of World War I
(Issued 25-10-2018)

PHILIPPINES ~ Paoya Church - Manila - UNESCO ~

.... Lovely views of one of the oldest churches in the Philippines... by far the most popular and visited... located in the middle of Manila in the historic district area called Intramuros... this Baroque Church represent a fusion of European church design (Baroque) and local construction techniques and decorations....  made of thick coral blocks and stucco-plastered bricks, sealed with a mixture of limestone mortar and sugarcane juice... their specific characteristics include a separate bell-tower... and 24 enormous 1.67 m tick buttresses on both sides of the structure, to withstand the powers of earthquakes common in the region... as a centerpiece inside the church is the gold plated altar with a figure of its patron Saint Augustine... it's the only church to have survived the bombing by the Japanese in WWII in the Intramuros.... Thanks Marlon!【ツ】

The Saint Augustine Church commonly known as the Paoay Church, is a Roman Catholic church in the Municipality of Paoay, Ilocos Norte. The construction was commenced in 1694 and was completed in 1710.

Four churches were selected to make up this WHS, as samples of the development of this Phillipine-Hispanic style over a period of more than 150 years (16th-18thC). On the UNESCO list since 1993.

These four are:
San Agustin (Manila)
La Asuncion (Santa Maria)
San Agustin (Paoay)
Santo Tomas (Miag-ao)

Stamps:

3X Philippine Flowers
(Issued 23-04-2018)

PHILIPPINES ~ Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park - Palawan - UNESCO ~

... Great views of the Sabang's famous underground river... one of the longest navigable river-traversed caves in the world... the river is 8.2km long and flows underground through natural rock formations of caves made of dissolved limestone... the stalagmites and stalactites reaching from the ceiling to the floor and floor to ceiling are massive...but tourists are only allowed to see the first 1.5kms... the river flows directly to the West Philippine Sea... some passages of this giant underworld are more than 24 km long and here is located one of the largest cave halls in the world... the cave also houses numerous species of bats, birds and reptiles... the site contains a full ‘mountain-to-sea’ ecosystem and has some of the most important forests in Asia... Puerto Princesa is the heart of Palawan known as the “City in the Forest”... it boasts of being the only city in the country who has successfully balanced the harmony between the development and environment... Thanks a lot John!【ツ】

Palawan is composed of the long and narrow Palawan Island, plus a number of other small islands surrounding the main island.

Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park was establishe in 1971.  The entire park covers more than 22,000 hectares in land area. Situated in the Saint Paul Mountain Range on the northern coast of the island.

Palawan Underground River is also called Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park because it is located in Puerto Princesa City, the capital of Palawan and a consistent winner of the “cleanest and greenest city”.

This Subterranean River National Park has more than 800 plant species, including almost 300 trees, 195 bird species, 30 mammals, 19 reptiles, and eight bat species. The flora of this park includes at least 295 trees dominated by the dipterocarp species.

It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Stamps

4X Definitives - Philippine Flowers
(23-04-2018)

INDIA ~ Virupaksha Temple - Hampi - UNESCO ~

... Nice view of a stunning piece of architecture and a great religious place... Virupaksha temple is the only intact temple in Hampi amongst the surrounding ruins... situated in the heart of Hampi... the most famous ancient temple and still remains an active Hindu worship site dedicated to Lord Shiva.... one of the oldest living temples in India... this temple is a major highlight during the tour of Hampi...  the carvings on the main temple facade and structure are absolutely gorgeous...  the temple will always be crowded by  pilgrims and tourists, as its the only one where prayers are offered... Thanks a lot Thomas Abraham! (ヅ)

Hampi is situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in Karnataka near the city of Hosapete, Hampi's ruins are spread over 4,100 hectares.

The Group of Monuments at Hampi represent the ruins of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara empire. This was a South Indian empire, dating from 1336 to 1646. The buildings in the city are mostly built in the original native traditions of southern India, associated with the Hindu religion. Some of them show a certain amount of Islamic influence due the interaction with Islamic kingdoms.

Assumed to be built in the 7thC, Virupaksha Temple it is the oldest temple in Hampi and can be viewed from most places near the bazaar area and across the river. It is constructed in Dravidian architecture style.

The Group of Monuments at Hampi are on the UNESCO WHS list since 1986.

Stamp:

Flowers - Orchids
(Issued 08-08-2016)

BRAZIL ~ Iguacu Falls - Iguaçu National Park - UNESCO ~

... Great view of one of of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world... an amazing and powerful natural wonder... one of South America’s natural highlights.... the largest waterfall system on the earth... consisting of a network of 275 waterfalls spanning an area of ± 3 km wide and height of 80 m... virtually at every angle a 360 view... incredibly breathtaking... taller than Niagara and wider than Victoria falls... while the majority of the falls stand on the Argentine side of the border, it is only from the Brazilian side that you can see the full panorama... on Devil's Throat (which is the name of the main water fall) you get the chance to do some rafting in the Iguaçu River and enjoy the trails around it... featured in the movie Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull... Thanks a lot Rubens!【ツ】

The Brazilian side of Iguacu National Park measures 170.086 ha. The park is located on the border of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. This massive forested park is the habitat of rare and endangered species such as rare species of birds, pumas, tapirs, monkeys and other wildlife.

Iguacu National Park was the second Brazilian National Park to be created in 1939.

Iguacu translated from the native Indian (Tupi-Guarani) language means “Big Water“

It became a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. The adjacent Argentinian side is another World Heritage Site.

Stamp:

2018 The 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Nelson Mandela,
(Issued 10-12-2018)

PERU ~ Cusco - UNESCO ~

... Wonderful aerial view of the city... located in the "sacred valley" of Peru... Cusco was the site of the historic capital of the Inca Empire.. famous for its curious blend of Inca and Spanish culture... colonial Spanish churches and convents have been built squarely on top of masterfully constructed Inca walls... despite the Spanish colonists’ best efforts to plunder the city of its Inca riches, they failed to completely destroy the massive network of Inca stonework, which continues to withstand both time and the elements while the Spanish buildings crack and crumble around them... with its numerous Inca temples, colonial churches, and vibrant plazas it has become a major tourist destination... hosting nearly 2 million visitors a year... Thanks a lot Anthony! ✿◕ ‿ ◕✿

Cusco is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region and of the Cusco Province. Located on the eastern end of the Knot of Cuzco, its elevation is around 3,400 m.

The indigenous name of this city is Qusqu. Although the name was used in Quechua, its origin is found in the Aymara language. The word is derived from the phrase qusqu wanka ('Rock of the owl'), related to the city's foundation myth of the Ayar Siblings. According to this legend, Ayar Awqa (Ayar Auca) acquired wings and flew to the site of the future city; there he was transformed into a rock to mark the possession of the land by his ayllu ("lineage").

In 1983, Cusco was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO with the title "City of Cuzco".

Stamp:

Visit of Pope Francis
(Issued 29-11-2018)

GERMANY ~ Old Town Hall - Bamberg - UNESCO ~

... Lovely view of the towns highlight... the unique Altes Rathaus located on an artificial island above the river Regnitz... on one side of the Old Town Hall, there’s a half-timbered building... on the other side, there are impressive frescoes painted across the length of both walls... a town with more than 1.000 years of history... the basic structure of the town remained untouched through the centuries...  unlike most other German towns it was little damaged in World War II... the medieval and baroque town houses and squares are well preserved and most of the streets remain cobbled... an architectural gem... Thanks a lot Sabine!ツ

Bamberg is a town in Upper Franconia, (part of the German state of Bavaria) on the river Regnitz close to its confluence with the river Main.

The old town hall of Bamberg was built in 1386 in the middle of the Regnitz River, accessible by two bridges. According to legend the bishop of Bamberg did not grant the citizens any land for the construction of a town hall. This prompted the townsfolk to ram stakes into the river Regnitz to create an artificial island, on which they built the town hall they so badly wanted.

The Old Town, Bamberg  became a  UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

Stamps:

Flora - Flowers
(Issued 08-06-2017)

 Lighthouses - Campen Lighthouse
(Issued 06-06-2019)

ZIMBABWE ~ Victoria Falls - Victoria Falls National Park - UNESCO ~

... Great new African country👍National Park👍 and UNESCO site👍 to add to my collection... a rainbow set against the spectacular backdrop of the scenic Victoria Falls... one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World... locals call this incredible Natural Wonder “Mosi-oa-Tunya” – "The Smoke that Thunders"... probably the most spectacular and largest fall in the world... the surrounding area is dominated by mopane woodland and savannah fed by the spray from the falls... the combination of its height (108m) and width (1,708m) results in the world's greatest sheet of falling water.... for reference to it's massive size: Niagara Falls is 51m (167 ft) in height - Iguazu Falls in 64-82m (210 -269 ft) and Victoria Falls is 108m (360 ft) and Victoria Falls is 1,708 m (5,604 ft) wide😲... Thanks a lot Bev!❀◕ ‿ ◕❀

"The most wonderful sight I have witnessed in Africa. None can imagine the beauty of the view from anything witnessed in England. It has never been seen before by European eyes, but scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight." -David Livingstone-

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in southern Africa. It is bordered by South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique.

Victoria Falls National Park is a 2300ha protected area that includes the town of Victoria Falls, the rain forest and the riverine bush along the Zambezi River as far as the Big Tree.

Spanning almost 1.7 km with a height of 108m split between Zimbabwe and Zambia, the mighty Victoria Falls can be seen from both sides of the Zambezi River and has two entrance gates. It is a well-known fact that the best place to see Victoria Falls is from Zimbabwe. Some two-thirds of Victoria Falls are located here, including the main falls themselves, which flow spectacularly year-round.

The area is a UNESCO World Heritage site, both for the Falls themselves and for the ecological significance of the area since 1989.

Photo: F M I Johnston

Stamp:

Birds
(08-02-2005)

RUSSIA ~ Dormition Cathedral - Vladimir - UNESCO ~

... Wonderful winter scene of a historical and cultural monument... a city's landmark and symbol of ancient Russian architecture... located on a cliff overlooking the Klyazma River in the "The Golden Circle" with some of Russia’s most beautiful religious buildings... this grand limestone church was expanded over time... a very impressive site, with its belltower and five golden domes and its richly painted and gilded interior....  this cathedral is one of the few temples with preserved frescoes of Andrei Rublev... Thanks a lot Oleg!【ツ】

Constructed in 1475-1479, the Cathedral of the Assumption, or Cathedral of Dormition, is a Russian Orthodox church and is dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos.The current structure hoted the coronation of every Russian monarch from 1547 to 1896 and is the burial place of most of the Moscow’s Patriarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church

Today, it is the cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church and the National Museum.

The Golden Ring is a selection of cities – Sergiyev Posad, Alexandrov, Kostroma, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Uglich, Ivanovo, Yaroslavl, Rostov Veliky, Suzdal and Vladimir.

The White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal embraces eight medieval limestone monuments of Zalesye. In 1992, the Dormition Cathedral was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage.

Stamps:

The 175th Anniversary of Hydrometeorologic Service

(Issued 15-05-2009)

The 1000th Anniversary of the Unification of Mordovia with Russia
(Issued 20-07-2012)

Definitive
(Issued 11-06-2019)

CANADA ~ Kingston Mill Locks - Rideau Canal - Ottowa - UNESCO ~

... Great aerial view of Kingston the southern mouth of the Rideau Canal...  Kingston Mills is one of 24 lockstations on the Rideau Canal and it serves as the first set of locks... originally designed as a system for naval trade and military supply... Kingston Mills features a lovely set of three locks, a turning basin, and a detached upper lock... a popular destination to see a working lockstation... you can access the locks by foot every season, but the boating season runs from May until October... it offers a location for picnicking, fishing, swimming, walking, and rock climbing... a recreational paradise... The Rideau is the oldest continuously operated canal system in North America and living history... every year, 90,000 boats pass through its locks...Thanks a lot Andrene!! \_(♥‿♥)_/

In 1784, the British Government built a saw mill and a grist mill at this location, the first fall of water up the Cataraqui River, in order to help the new settlers in the fledgling Loyalist settlement of Kingston. By 1826, the grist mill (the second in this location) had gone out of use but a saw mill (the third in this location) was still operating.

Rideau Canal Facts:
- The canal is 202 kilometres long, from Ottawa to Kingston, Ontario and was built between 1826 and 1832
- The construction of the Canal was supervised by Lieutenant-Colonel John By.
- It includes lakes, rivers, locks, and 29 km of canal "cuts"
- There are 45 locks at 24 lockstations. only 2 are electrically operated.
- Canal staff operate the others manually.
- Navigable depth is a minimum of 1.5m. Boats up to 27.4m long and 7.9m wide can use the locks.
- The average time to fill a lock with water is about five minutes.
- The average time to pass through a lock is 15 minutes.
- The locks raise boats until they reach Newboro, the highest point in the system.
- The northern canal has a drainage area of 3740 km² the southern section, 910 km².

The Rideau Canal was designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO’s World Heritage in 2007.

Stamps:

????

The 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Mission to the Moon
(Issued 27-06-2019)

GERMANY ~ Jasmund National Park - UNESCO ~

... Beautiful views from the spectacular coastline of the smallest National Park in Germany... famous for the chalk-white cliffs, offering a panoramic view of the Baltic Sea and Germany's mainland coast... the highlights of the island's national park and visited by millions each year.... the beech forests behind the cliffs are also part of the national park... because of the special geological characteristics of the Jasmund National Park, it is home to rare plants and animals... it has also many luxurious seaside resorts... Bismarck, Sigmund Freud, Thomas Mann and Albert Einstein all vacationed here... Thanks so much dear Dustin for thinking of me while on vacation! ✿乂◕‿◕乂  With fantastic special postmark honoring the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing👍...The Apollo 11 lunar module Eagle carrying mission commander Neil Armstrong (shown on the postmark) and pilot Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon’s surface on July 20, 1969, while command module pilot Michael Collins orbited above!💙

Photo: R. Jung, G. Reymann
Jasmund National Park is a natural forest surrounded with White Chalk cliffs and sea beach. It is located on the Island of Rugen in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. This National Park was established in 1990 and covers an area of of 30 km² along the Baltic coast.

In 2011 the beech forest in the park was added to UNESCO World Heritage Site as an extension of the Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany.

Stamps:

Flowers
(Issued 18-12-2018)

Moon Rock  - Astronomy
(Issued 01-07-2019)