Iraq vol.1

Today was another day when my mailbox was happy.But this time it was very happy.Because there were two amazing cards from ..........IRAQ.For that I must thank Mildez from Baghdad:)

He made me very happy.Thanks:).Iraq is a rare country in postcrossing and I am soo happy that I have two cards from there.Sadly some stamps were missing from the envelope("thanks" to postal service ,I guess)

This card is showing a map of Iraq and the grave of Al-Imam Ali(P.P.U.H),Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf.

The Imām ‘Alī Holy Shrine (Arabic: حرم الإمام علي‎), also known as Masjid Ali or theMosque of ‘Alī, located in Najaf, Iraq, is the third holiest site for some of the estimated 200 million followers of the Shia branch of Islam. ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib, the cousin ofMuhammad, the fourth caliph is buried here. Buried next to Ali within this mosque are the remains of Adam and Noah according to Shi'a belief.

The shrine was first built by the Iranian ruler the Daylamite Fannakhosraw Azod ad Dowlehin 977 over the tomb of Ali. After being destroyed by fire, it was rebuilt by the Seljuk Malik Shah I in 1086, and rebuilt yet again by the Safavid Shah Ismail I shortly after 1500.

During the uprising of March 1991, following the Persian Gulf War, Saddam Hussein's Republican Guards damaged the shrine, where members of the Shia opposition were cornered, in storming the shrine and massacring virtually all its occupants. Afterwards the shrine was closed for two years, officially for repairs. Saddam also deported to Iran a large number of the residents of the area who were of Iranian descent.

As the burial site of Islam's second most important figure, the Imām ‘Alī Mosque is considered by all Shias as the third holiest Islamic site The Boston Globereports “for the world's nearly 120 million Muslim Shias, Najaf is the third holiest city, behind Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. for some of the estimated 200 million followers of the Shī‘ah branch of Islām worldwide – approximately 15 percent of total Muslims. It is estimated that only Karbalā, Makkah and Madīnah receive more Muslim pilgrims.A famous hadith mentions the site as one of "five definitive holy places that we respect very much".

Montana

Cool Montana map card,comes from Mike .

Montana is located in the Western United States.The capital city is Helena.On the card you can also see the state symbols (flag,bird ,flower and so on),The name of Monatana comes from spansih word that means mountain. With a land area of 145,552 square miles (376,980 km²) the state of Montana is the fourth largest in the United States

South Korea

It has been ages when I posted something here.Wel,l now I have a reason to do it.I received a card from Korea some days ago.And now I want to share it with you:)It is showing aerial view of Seongsan Ilchulbong Tuff Cone,It belongs to Unesco World Natural Heritage Jeju.

Jeju is a volcanic island formed during the fourth epoch of the Cenozoic Era. With its well-preserved geological features, the island is scientifically valuable for study of volcanic activities and subsequent lava cave formation. In 2007 the UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed the Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes on the World Natural Heritage List in recognition of their prominent scientific value and aesthetic scenery. The designation covered three sites-the Mt. Halla Nature Reserve, the Geomunoreum lava tube system and the Seongsan Ilchulbong, an archetypal tuff cone.

The World Natural Heritage in Jeju consists of three sites covering a total of 188.4 square kilometers, including some 187.2 square kilometers of land, which is 10.1 percent of the island' s total territory, and 1.2 square kilometers of publicly owned water surface. Mt. Halla (Hallasan) has a vast array of plant and animal species and superb natural scenery that features the crater lake Baengnokdam (White Deer Lake) on the top, fantastic cliffs and waterfalls. The mountain, rising 1,950 meters above sea level, has a unique vertical distribution of plants of diverse zones ranging from the subtropical, warm temperate and temperate to frigid zones.

The tuff cone of Seongsan Sunrise Peak, created by undersea volcanic eruption, has a dramatic landscape. The fortress-like peak, with its walls rising out of the ocean, has exceptional exposures of its structural and sediment characteristics, including the crater preserving its original shape. It is a world-class location for understanding the process of volcanic formation and Surtseyan-type eruptions.

The Geomunoreum lava tube system, regarded as the finest of its kind in the world, comprises a lateral volcano and five lava caves. They were created some 100,000-300,000 years ago when magma erupted from Geomunoreum and flowed through natural conduits slanted northeast toward the coastline, which are now empty caves displaying unique spectacles of multi-colored carbonate roofs and floors. Varying in length, structure and component, the five caves are Bengdwi Cave, Manjang and Gimnyeong Caves, Yongcheon Cave and Dangcheomul Cave. The Geomunoreum lateral volcano is Natural Monument.

Red Panda

Sent by Jetske.This cute red panda lives in Rotterdam Zoo. It came with matching stamp on envelope:)

The Red Panda is a small arboreal mammal and the only species of the genus Ailurus. Slightly larger than a domestic cat, it has reddish-brown fur, a long, shaggy tail, and a waddling gait due to its shorter front legs. It eats mainly bamboo, but is omnivorous and may also eat eggs, birds, insects, and small mammals. It is a solitary animal, mainly active from dusk to dawn, and is largely sedentary during the day.

Endemic to the temperate forests of the Himalayas, the Red Panda ranges from Nepal in the west toChina in the east. It is also found in northern India, Bhutan and northern Myanmar. Accurate population figures in the wild are difficult to find, with estimates ranging from 11,000 to 20,000 worldwide. Although it is protected by law in all countries where it lives, its numbers in the wild continue to decline mainly due to habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, and inbreeding depression.

The Red Panda is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN red list (2009.01), and is listed in CITESappendix I. It has been previously classified in the families Procyonidae (raccoon) and Ursidae(bears), but recent research has placed it in its own family Ailuridae, in superfamily Musteloideaalong with Mustelidae, Procyonidae, and Mephitidae. Two subspecies are recognized.

The Red Panda is quite adaptable to living in captivity and is common in zoos worldwide. As of 2006 the international studbook listed more than 800 individuals in zoos and parks around the world.

Lisbon Tram

Lovely tram postcard from Paula/Geminiscp/.It is showing a Lisbon tram.Tram numebr 28 .

The most unique way to explore Lisbon is by its yellow traditional trams. This method of public transport in Portugal has become one of the most appealing attractions in the city. The tram 28, considered a national treasure, takes you on a tour by a selection of old Lisbon's sights, past historic buildings and traditional housing. Inaugurated in 1914, between Largo Camões andEstrela, the tram 28 route has been successively extended over the years.

In fact, Tram 28 covers the most picturesque route in Lisbon. It runs from Largo Martim Moniz to Prazeres, via the Alfama, Baixa, Chiado, São Bento and Estrela.

Leaving Martim Moniz, the tram 28 continues through a labyrinth of narrow streets. DiscoverMouraria and Alfama and while you are there, go and see the Miradouro da Graça which boasts fantastic views of the city. Continuing the route along Tram 28 will take you to theRoyal Pantheon, São Vincente de Fora Church, one of the most imposing and notable religious monuments in the city, and the famous Feira da Ladra. It is held from Tuesday to Saturday and is one of the most popular in Lisbon. The Tram continues its route to Largo Portas do Sol, Miradouro de Santa Luzia with its traditional mosaic and the Sé Cathedral.

28 continues is route to Chiado quarter and Largo Luis de Camões until S. Bento. Running upLisbon's hills, the tram 28 arrives to Estrela. Facing the gardens is the Basílica da Estrela, in late baroque and neo-classical style. Taking the streets Domingos Sequeira and Saraiva de Carvalho the tram finally arrives at Campo de Ourique right next to the final resting place of the famous, the Cemitério dos Prazeres (Prazeres Cemetery).

There are many choices amongst the 35 stops of tram 28 for places to get off and discover the Lisbon's heritage.( copy paste from http://blog.apartment-in-lisbon.com/lisbon-tram-28)

Cathedral of Santa Eulalia

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The Cathedral of Santa Eulalia is the Gothiccathedral seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona, Spain. (Though sometimes inaccurately so called, the famous Sagrada Família is not a cathedral). The cathedral was constructed throughout the 13th to 15th centuries, with the principal work done in the 14th century. The cloisters enclosing the Well of the Geese (Fuente de las Ocas) were completed about 1450. The neo-Gothic façade was constructed over the nondescript exterior that is common to Catalan churches^[1] in the 19th century.

The cathedral was constructed over the crypt of a former Visigothic chapel, dedicated to Saint James, which was the proprietary church of the Viscounts of Barcelona, one of whom, Mir Gerberto, sold it in 1058 to bishop Guisleberto. Its site faced the Roman forum of Barcelona,

It is a hall church, vaulted over five aisles, the outer two divided into chapels. The transept is truncated. The east end is a chevet of nine radiating chapels connected by an ambulatory. The high altar is raised, allowing a clear view into the crypt.

The cathedral is dedicated to Eulalia of Barcelona, co-patron saint of Barcelona, a young virgin who, according to Catholic tradition, suffered martyrdom during Roman times in Barcelona. One story is that she was exposed naked in the public square and a miraculous snowfall in mid-spring covered her nudity. The enraged Romans put her into a barrel with knives stuck into it and rolled it down a street (according to tradition, the one now called 'Baixada de Santa Eulalia'). The body of Saint Eulalia is entombed in the cathedral's crypt.

Uppo -Nalle

Uppo-Nalle is a series of Finnish children's novels by the Finnish author Elina Karjalainen.

The main character in the books is Uppo-Nalle, an animate teddy bear. The bear was named Uppo-Nalle (Finnish for "sunken bear") because he was originally found underwater during a river cruise. Other characters in the books are a girl named Reeta, her grandmother, and their dog named Laulava lintukoira (Finnish for "singing bird dog").

Kronborg Castle

Kronborg Slot (in english Kronborg castle) is situated near the town of Helsingør (immortalised as Elsinore in Shakespeare's Hamlet) on the extreme northeastern tip of Zealand at the narrowest point of the Øresund, the sound between Denmark and Sweden. In this part, the sound is only 4 km wide, hence the strategic importance of maintaining a fortress at this location commanding one of the few outlets of the Baltic Sea. The castle has for centuries been one of the most important Renaissance castles in Northern Europe and was added to UNESCO's World Heritage Sites list on November 30, 2000.

The castle's story dates back to a fortress, Krogen, built in the 1420s by the Danish king,Eric of Pomerania. The king insisted on the payment of sound dues by all ships wishing to enter or leave the Baltic Sea; to help enforce his demands, he built a powerful fortress controlling the sound. It then consisted of a number of buildings inside a surrounding wall.

Stamped with Copenhagen Opera House stamp.Value 7.75 DKK.

The Copenhagen Opera House (in Danish usually called Operaen) is the national opera house of Denmark, and among the most modern opera houses in the world. It is also one of the most expensive opera houses ever built with construction costs well over 500 million U.S. dollars.. It is located on the island of Holmen in the center ofCopenhagen.