Lake Baikal

Wonderful Unesco card from Siberia(it is very special to me ,my dad was born in Siberia)

We visited Siberia in 1990 or 1991 ..I guess.I remeber it was really hot but I loved it.

Lake Baikal is the world's oldest and deepest lake; it is the second most voluminous lake, after the Caspian Sea. As the most voluminous freshwater lake in the world, with an average depth of 744.4 m (2,442 ft), Lake Baikal contains roughly 20% of the world's surface fresh water, and is located in the south of the Russian region of Siberia (between Irkutsk Oblast to the northwest and the Buryat Republic to the southeast, near the city of Irkutsk).
At 1,642 metres (5,387 ft), Lake Baikal is the deepest, and among the clearest of all lakes in the world. At more than 25 million years old, Baikal is also the world's oldest lake. Like Lake Tanganyika, Lake Baikal was formed as an ancient rift valley, having the typical long crescent shape with a surface area of 31,722 km2/12,248 sq mi, less than that of Lake Superior or Lake Victoria. Baikal is home to more than 1,700 species of plants and animals, two thirds of which can be found nowhere else in the world and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. It is also home to Buryat tribes who reside on the eastern side of Lake Baikal, rearing goats, camels, cattle and sheep, where the regional temperature varies from a minimum of −19 °C (−2 °F) in winter to maximum of 14 °C (57 °F) in summer.

Isle of Man

Beautiful card from Ria (from our private swap),sent from USA .

The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is represented by a Lieutenant Governor. The island is not part of the United Kingdom, but its foreign relations and defence are the responsibility of the UK Government. Although it does not usually interfere in the island's domestic matters, its "good government" is ultimately the responsibility of the Crown (i.e., in practice, the Government of the United Kingdom).
The island has been inhabited since before 6500 BC. It began to be influenced by Gaelic culture in the AD 5th century and the Manx language, a branch of the Gaelic languages, gradually emerged. In the 9th century, the Norse began to settle there. A Norse-Gaelic culture emerged and the island came under Norse control. In 1266, the island became part of Scotland. After a period of alternating rule by the kings of Scotland and England, the island came under the feudal overlordship of the English Crown in 1399. The lordship revested into the British Crown in 1764 but the island never became part of the United Kingdom and retained its status as an internally self-governing jurisdiction.
The island is not a member of the European Union, but has a limited relationship concerning the free movement of goods.

Sverige Julkort

Beautiful swedish christmascard from SusaTiina.New perfect card to my Sweden colllection.

Tack,Susa:)

Cambodia

Beautiful card from Cheerful,my blogger friend:) .My first card from Cambodia :)Thank you Cheerful:).

The Kingdom of Cambodia is a country in Southeast Asia that borders Thailand to the west and northwest, Laos to the north, Vietnam to the east, and the Gulf of Thailand to the south. The geography of Cambodia is dominated by the Mekong River and the Tonlé Sap.
The kingdom is a constitutional monarchy with Norodom Sihamoni as king who has reigned since 2004. Phnom Penh is the kingdom's capital and largest city, and is the center of political, commercial, industrial and cultural activities. Siem Reap, a city located near the famous ruins of Angkor Wat is the gateway to the Angkor region, and is Cambodia's main destination for tourism. Battambang, the largest city in western Cambodia, is known for its rice production, and Sihanoukville, a coastal city, is the primary sea port and beach resort.
Cambodia has an area of 181,035 square kilometres (69,898 sq mi) and a population of over 14 million ethnic Khmer. A citizen of Cambodia is usually identified as "Cambodian" or "Khmer", though they strictly refer to ethnic Khmers. Most Cambodians are Theravada Buddhists, but the country also have a minority number of Muslim Cham, as well as ethnic Chinese, Vietnamese and small animist hill tribes.
Agriculture has long been the most important sector to the Cambodian economy, with around 59% of the population relying on agriculture for their livelihood (with rice being the principal crop). Other important sectors include garments, construction and tourism - foreign visitors to Angkor Wat numbered more than 4 million in 2007.

Faroe Islands

Beautiful card showing Tórshavn ,a capital city of Faroe Islands.

Tórshavn is the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy. To the north west of the town lies the 347-metre (1,138 ft) high mountain Húsareyn, and to the southwest, the 350-metre (1,150 ft) high Kirkjubøreyn. The city itself has a population of 19,000 (2008). The city was founded in the 10th century.
The Vikings established their parliament on the Tingenes peninsula in Tórshavn 825, thus Tórshavn was made capital of Faroe Islands and has remained so ever since. All through the Middle Ages the narrow peninsula jutting out into the sea made up the main part of Tórshavn. Sources do not mention a built-up area in Tórshavn until after the Protestant Reformation in 1539. Early on, Tórshavn became the center of the monopoly trade, thereby being the only legal place for the islanders to sell and buy goods. In 1856, the trade monopoly was abolished and the islands were left open to free trade. The town has grown rapidly ever since the turn of the 20th century into the undisputed administrative, economic and cultural center of the Faroes.

Greenland

It has neen a while without any new updates;).I have been busy with my job.But I have received so many beautiful postcards and I want to show them here to my friends too:).

This postcard is showing Greenland.

Greenland is an autonomus country within the Kingdom of Denmark,located between Arctic and Atlantic Oceans.

Greenland has been inhabited, though not continuously, by indigenous people since 2500 BC. There were Norse colonies in Greenland from AD 986 until sometime most likely in the 15th century. In the early 18th century contact between Scandinavia and Greenland was re-established and Denmark established rule over Greenland.

Bora Bora

Wonderful map card from Magali.Thank you soo much.

Bora Bora is an island in the Leeward group of the Soceiety Islands of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the Pacific Ocean. The island, located about 230 kilometres (140 mi) northwest of Papeete, is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef. In the center of the island are the remnants of an extinct volcano rising to two peaks, Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu, the highest point at 727 metres (2,385 ft). The original name of the island in the Tahitian language might be better rendered as Pora Pora, meaning "First Born"; an early transcription found in 18th- and 19th century accounts, is Bolabolla or Bollabolla.

The major settlement, Vaitape is on the western side of the island, opposite the main channel into the lagoon. The products of the island are mostly limited to what can be obtained from the sea and coconut trees, which were historically of economic importance for copra. During the August 2007 census, the population on the island was about 8,880 people.

Alcatraz island

Swap card from CaptainSoul:)

Alcatraz Island is an island located in the San Fransico Bay, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) offshore from San Fransico,California Often referred to as The Rock, the small island early-on served as a lighthouse, a military fortification, a military prison, and a Federal Bureau of Prisons federal prison until 1963. Later, in 1972, Alcatraz became a national recreation area and received landmarking designations in 1976 and 1986.

Today, the island is a historic site operated by the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreatsion Area and is open to tours. Visitors can reach the island by Ferry ride from Pier 33, near Fishermans Wharf in San Francisco. In 2008 the nation's first hybrid propulsion ferry started serving the island. Alcatraz has been featured in many movies, TV shows, cartoons, books, comics, and games.

Albania

Albania is a country in South Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Repuplic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the west, and on the Ionian Sea to the southwest.

Mississippi

The state of Mississippi is located in the Southern United States.Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, which namesake is from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi ("Great River"). The state is heavily forested outside of the Mississippi Delta area, and its catfish aquaculture farms produce the majority of farm-raised catfish consumed in the United States. The state symbol is the magnolia grandiflora tree.

Kentucky

The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United State Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth (the others being Virgina, Pennsylvania, and Massaschusetts). Originally a part of Virgina, in 1792 it became the 15th state to join the Union. Kentucky is the 37th largest state in terms of total area, the 36th largest in land area, and ranks 26th in population.

Missouri

The state of Missouri is located in the Midwesern United States bordered by Iowa,Illinois, Kentucky,Tennessee,Arkansas,Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. Missouri is the 18th most populous state with a 2009 estimated population of 5,987,580. It comprises114 counties and one independet city. Missouri's capital is Jefferson city. The four largest urban areas are St.Louis, Kansas city, Springfield, and Columbia.Missouri was originally acquired from France as part of the Lousiana Purchase and became defined as the Missouri Territory. Part of the Missouri Territory was admitted into the union as the 24th state in August 10, 1821.

Nigeria

"Hard-to get"country:)Huge thank you to Amelija and her brother.;)

Nigeria is a country in Africa.The capital city is Abuja.The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in the north. Its coast in the south lies on the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean. The three largest and most influential ethnic groups in Nigeria are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. In terms of religion Nigeria is roughly split half and half between Muslims and Christians with a very small minority who practice traditional religions.

Ireland

The unique beauty of Ireland´s landscape and historic,literary and artistic associatsions have long made it a faveourite resort for tourists.Ireland is the third largest island in Europe

Croatia

Beautiful,shaped card from Goggs,Croatia.

This is my first Croatian card.Vukovar is a city and municipality in eastern Croatia, and the biggest river port in Croatia located at the confulence of the Vuka river and the Danube. Vukovar is the center of the Vukovar-Srijem county. The city's registered population was 30,126 in the 2001 census, with 31,670 in the municipality.

New Mexico

State facts:

Bird :Roadrunner

Flower:Yucca

Tree: Pinon

Capital: Santa Fe

Fish: Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout

Animal: Black bear

Vegetables: Chile,pinto beans(frijoles)

Gem: Torquoise

Songs: "O,Fair New Mexico" and "Asi Es Nuevo Mexico"

Highest Point: 13,160 feet,Wheeler Peak

America´s Birthday

Consisting of representatives from the legislatures of the Thirteen Colonies,the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Indipendence on the 4th of July,1776,making that day America´s official birthday.This 4th of July photo shows spectacular fireworks over the Capitol and the Washington Monument in Washington D.C.

New York

I still have plenty map cards to show here:P

New York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous. The state is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Connecticut, Massaschusetts and Vermont to the east. The state has a maritime border with Rhode Island east of Long Island, as well as an international border with the Canadian provinces of Ontario to the west, and Qubec to the north. New York is often referred to as New York State to distinguish it from New York City.

New York City, which is geographically the largest city in the state and most populous in the United States, is known for its history as a gateway of immigration to the United States and its status as a financial, cultural, transportation, and manufacturing center. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, it is also a destination of choice for many foreign visitors. Both state and city were named for the 17th century Duke of York, James Stuart, future James II and VII of England and Scotland.

The Virgin Islands

Beautiful Virgin Islands map from 9teen87:).Thanks ,Brenda.This card is from my faves.

The Virgin Islands are situated in the Carribean Sea80 miles east of Puerto Rico.Discovered by Columbus in 1493 ,they consists of about 60 sun-drenched islands and islets with near-perfect weather and unrivaled tropical scenery.

Lanzarote

Beautiful and coloful card from D.E.T.E (Duple´s Europe Travelling Envelope ) ,group H3 and the host was Fisherman.

Lanzarote is a Spanish island in the easternmost of the autonomus Canary Islands, , in the Atlantic ocean, approximately 125 km off the coast of Afrika and 1,000 km from the Iberian Peninsula. Covering 845.9 km², it stands as the fourth largest of the islands. The first recorded name for the island, given by Angelino Dulcert, was Insula de Lanzarotus Marocelus, after the Genoese navigator Lancelotto Malocello, from which the modern name is derived. The island's name in the native language was Titerro(y)gatra, which may mean "the red mountains".

Giant Panda

At birth , the panda cub is helpless,it takes considerable effort on the mother´s part to raise it.A newborn cub weights three to five ounces and is about the size of a stick of butter.Except for a marsupial such as kangaroo,a giant panda baby is the smallest mammal newborn relative to it´s mother´s size.

Greetings from Indiana

The State of Indiana is a U.S. state, the 19^th admitted to the Union. It is located in the Great Lakes Region, and with approximately 6.3 million residents, is ranked 16^th in populatsion and 17^th in populatsion density Indiana is ranked 38^thin land area, and is the smallest state in the continental US west of the Appalachian Mountains. Itscapital and largest city is Indianapolis, the largest of any state capital east of the Mississipi River.

Ohio

Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S., it is the 7th-most populous with nearly 11.5 million residents. The state's capital is ColumbusThe Anglicized name 'Ohio' comes from the Iroqouis word ohi-yo’, meaning 'great river'.

The state, originally partitioned from the Northwest Territory, was admitted to the Union as the 17th state (and the first under the Northwest Ordinance) on March 1, 1803. Although there are conflicting narratives regarding the origin of the nickname, Ohio is historically known as the 'Buckeye State' (relating to the Ohio Buckeye Tree) and Ohioans are also known as "Buckeyes".

Earth

Another beautiful card from Laura(Bixie).

Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the fifth-largest and the densest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestial planets. It is sometimes referred to as the World,the Blue Planet, or by its Latin name, Terra.

Home to millions of species including humans, Earth is the only place in the universe where life is known to exist. The planet formed 4,54 billion years ago, and life appeaerdon its surface within a billion years.

Amish Country

Greetings from "The Amish Country"!

The various Amish or Amish Mennonite church fellowships are Christian religious denominations that form a very traditional subgrouping of Mennonite churches. The Amish are known for simple living,plain dress and reluctance to adopt modern convenience.

The history of the Amish church began with a schism in Switzerland within a group of Swiss and Alsatian Anabaptists in 1693 led by Jakob Ammann Those who followed Ammann became known as Amish. These followers were originally from three main places: the German-speaking parts of Switzerland, the Alsace of France, and the Palatinate of Germany. In the early 18th century, many Amish and Mennonites emigrated to Pennsylvania for a variety of reasons. Today, the most traditional descendants of the Amish continue to speak Pennsylvania German, also known as Pennsylvania Dutch. However, a dialect of Swiss German predominates in some Old Order Amish communities, especially in the American state of Indiana. Over the years, the Amish churches have divided many times over doctrinal disputes. The 'Old Order' Amish, a conservative faction that withdrew from fellowship with the wider body of Amish in the 1860s, are those that have most emphasized traditional practices and beliefs. There are as many as eight different subgroups of Amish with most belonging, in their order of conservatism, to the Scwartzentruber Amish, Andy Weaver, Old Order,New Order or Beachy Amish sects. As of 2000, over 165,000 Old Order Amish live in Canada and the United States. A new study, produced in 2008, suggests their numbers have increased to 227,000.

Greetings from Wisconsin

The state of Wisconsin is one of the fifty U.S. states .Located in the noth-central United States.

Wisconsin´s capital city is Madison,the largest city is Miluwaukee.Wisconsin entered the Union :May 29th ,1848(30th)
Wisconsin´s nickname is "The Badger State".

Greetings from Pennsylvania

Today I was really happy when I opened my mailbox.There was a envelope -full of amazing cards:)Thank you very much ,Laura(Bixie).You made my day.The first card is showing Pennsylvania state.

Pennsilyvania was the second state that joined with Union(United States of America).It was on 12.12.1787.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a state located in the Northeastern and Middle Antlantic regions of the United States.Pennsylvania area in square miles is 44 892 and population 11 864 751. The nicname of the state is "The Keystone State"

The capital city is Harrisburg,largest city is Philadelphia

The Summer Palace

Yiheyuan ,the Summer Palace built in 1750,is composed mainly of Wanshoushan(the Longevity Hill) and the Kunmig Lake.With Foxiangge( The Pavillion of Buddhist Incense) at its center,the palce consists of over 3000 courts and gardens that served the three purposes of political activities,living and entertainment.

Piccadilly Circus

Another card from Postcrossing meeting,this time from London.THis card is sent by Lotte:)my dear Lotte:)Thank you soo much fror this beautiful card.Sigend by Lotte,Reggie,Stew,JC65,Dollart,Astrid1978,Messfiwi,T-C,Tjitske,MissMaple,Audiopineapple,Duplevista,Lotty,Ichabodhies,Anjaaustel.

The Circus was created by John Nash as part of the future King George IV's plan to connect Carlton House - where the Prince Regent resided - with Regent´s park.

The creation of the Shaftesbury Avenue in 1885 turned the plaza into a busy traffic junction. This made Piccadilly Circus attractive for advertisers, who installed the first illuminated billboards in London in 1895. For some time the plaza was surrounded by billboards, creating London's version of Times Square, but

currently only one building still carries large (mostly electronic) displays.

At the center of the Circus stands the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain. It was built in 1893 to commemorate Lord Shaftesbury, a philanthropist known for his support of the poor.

The seminude statue on top of the fountain depicts the Angel of Christian Charity but was later renamed Eros after the Greek god of love and beauty. The fountain was made in bronze, but the statue is made of aluminum, at the time a novel and rare material.

The name 'Piccadilly' originates from a 17th century frilled collar named piccadil. Roger Baker, a tailor who became rich making piccadils lived in the area. The word 'Circus' refers to the roundabout around which the traffic circulated.

Arctic fox

Cute foxy from Jväskylä meeting.Sent by Markus.Signed byMarkus,Erjamaarit,Alisa

,Annetio,Suzie,Dollart,Marjatta,Devanna

Thank you very much:) for this beautiful suprise in my lonely mailbox.

Arctic fox is also known as white fox,polar fox or snow fox.It is a small native in cold Arctic regions in the Northen Hemisphere and is common throughout the Arctic tundra biome.

The arctic fox is an incredibly hardy animal that can survive frigid Arctic temperatures as low as –58°F (-50°C) in the treeless lands where it makes its home. It has furry soles, short ears, and a short muzzle—all-important adaptations to the chilly clime. Arctic foxes live in burrows, and in a blizzard they may tunnel into the snow to create shelter.

Arctic foxes have beautiful white (sometimes blue-gray) coats that act as very effective winter camouflage. The natural hues allow the animal to blend into the tundra's ubiquitous snow and ice. When the seasons change, the fox's coat turns as well, adopting a brown or gray appearance that provides cover among the summer tundra's rocks and plants.

These colorings help foxes to effectively hunt rodents, birds, and even fish. But in winter prey can be scarce on the ground. At such times, arctic foxes will follow the region's premier predator—a polar bear—to eat the leftover scraps from its kills. Foxes will also eat vegetables when they are available.

Like a cat's, this fox's thick tail aids its balance. But for an arctic fox the tail (or "brush") is especially useful as warm cover in cold weather.

Female arctic foxes give birth each spring to a large litter of up to 14 pups.

National costumes

Beautiful national clothes from Hana.Hana says that:"Traditsions are still kept in some places,which is great."

I think it is great too.And those clothes are really colorful and beautiful.

Thank you very much ,Hana:)

Puerto Rico

Well,this is my first "official" card from Puerto Rico.

It´ s showing a city named Ponce.

With a population of 194,636, Ponce is Puerto Rico's second largest city (San juan is the first and Mayaguez is the third). Ponce is known as "La Perla del Sur" (pearl of the south) and "La Ciudad de los Leones" (city of lions). Ponce was founded in 1692 by Juan Ponce de León's great-grandson - Loíza Ponce de León.

The building on the card is Parque de Bombas Firehouse. A unique attraction on the central Plaza de las Delicias is the unusual Ponce fire station, a landmark wooden building painted in black and red stripes. The firehouse was built in 1882 and was tested to its limits just a year later when the city experienced a massive fire. Firemen from the Parque de Bombas station heroically battled the blaze. The station remained headquarters for the fire fighters until 1990, when it was turned into a museum open to the public.

Estonian Milk

This cool card comes from Monnakikku.Thanks ,Monna.I really like it .

Through all times the Estonian has drawn vital power from domestic milk.Estonian milk-for the health of people.

I remember when I was a young girl and was staying with my granny.She woke very early and milked her cow and then took the milk churn to the milk stand where the milk truck collected it.Fresh cold milk -yummy.

:)

Iraq vol. 2

A mutiview from Iraq.Ruins of Hatra in Nineveh (Northern of Iraq) illustrates to the left the Queen of Hatra monument and to the right the ruins of Assyrian Winged Bulls and The Sun Temple of Hatra (Hatra is listed in UNESCO World Heritage List).

Iraq (pronounced /iːˈrɑːk/ or /ɪˈræk/, Arabic: العراق Al-Irāq), officially the Republic of Iraq(Arabic: جمهورية العراق (help·info) Jumhūrīyat Al-Irāq, Kurdish: كؤماری عه‌راق‎, Komara Îraqê,^[2]Neo-Aramaic: ܥܸܪܵܩ) is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of theZagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of theArabian Desert.

Iraq is bordered by Jordan to the west, Syria to the northwest, Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, and Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to the south. Iraq has a narrow section of coastline measuring 58 km (35 miles) on the northern Persian Gulf. The capital city, Baghdad (Arabic:بغداد‎ Baġdād), is in the center-east of the country.

Two major rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, run through the centre of Iraq, flowing from northwest to southeast. These provide Iraq with agriculturally capable land and contrast with the steppeand desert landscape that covers most of Western Asia.

Historically, the territory comprising Iraq was known in Europe by the Greek toponym 'Mesopotamia' (Land between the rivers). Iraq has been home to continuous successive civilizations since the 6th millennium BC. The region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers is identified as the cradle of civilization and the birthplace of writing and the wheel.