Quiver trees | Namibia

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The quiver tree (or kokerboom in Afrikaans) is a tall, branching species of aloe, indigenous to parts of Southern Namibia. Bushmen traditionally used its branches to make quivers. A quiver is a container for holding arrows, bolts, or darts.

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The Dune Lark is Namibia’s only true endemic bird; their range is entirely within the borders of the country. The Dune Lark‘s preferred habitat consists of sparsely vegetated sand dunes, where it does not drink water but instead feeds solely on seeds or insects.

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Lindau island | Germany

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Lindau is a major town and an island with the same name in Lake Constance (Bodensee in German). It is a unique location. In the middle of a clear lake, surrounded by an impressive panorama of the Alps.

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Rabaul City | Papua New Guinea

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Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and its offshore islands in Melanesia. New Britain is one of the main islands of PNG, located about 60 kilometres to the east of the island of New Guinea.

Rabaul is a township located on the island of New Britain.

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Blyth's hornbill, also known as the Papuan hornbill, is a large hornbill inhabiting the forests of PNG. Its local name in Tok Pisin (an official language of Papua New Guinea) is Kokomo.

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Islamabad, capital of Pakistan

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Islamabad is the capital city of Pakistan since the 1960's. When Pakistan gained independence in 1947, the southern port city of Karachi was its first national capital. To break with its colonial past, a new capital was founded.

The Margalla Hills is a hill range part of the foothills Himalayas located within the Margalla Hills National Park, north of Islamabad.

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Port Louis, capital of Mauritius

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Port Louis is the capital city of Mauritius, located on the island's north-west coast. The Caudan Waterfront  is a commercial development in Port Louis. It includes shops, banking facilities, casinos, cinemas, restaurants, a marina and a five star hotel.

"At Le Caudan Waterfront, one can meet friends for a drink, take a walk along the harbour, watch the latest movie, listen to music, enjoy a meal, try one’s luck at the casino and admire artists’ work while enjoying shopping. Its ability to offer such a dynamic and diverse environment confers a strong sociological dimension to Le Caudan.."

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Greetings from Bahamas

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The Bahamas is a country consisting of more than 3,000 islands, in the Atlantic Ocean, north of Cuba and Hispaniola.

“It’s quite literally heaven on Earth here. Just take one look at any of our breathtaking beaches, said to be sandier than most beaches in the region. Miles of pink or pure white powdery sand. Endless crystal-clear turquoise waves rolling onto the shore. And when you step into the ocean, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how clear the water is. You’ll see everything. Even your toes.”

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Dry Tortugas National Park | USA

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Halfway between Florida and Cuba in the Gulf of Mexico lies the remote Dry Tortugas National Park. The 100-square mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands. Spanish explorer Ponce de León gave the Dry Tortugas their name on his first visit in 1513. 

Fort Jefferson is located on Garden Key, the second largest island in the Dry Tortugas. Construction of the fort started in 1846 but was never completed. For some time the fort served as a prison.  

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National Museum of Western Art | Japan

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The National Museum of Western Art is the famed architect's only built project in the far east. It remains open today and houses the work of significant western artists including Rodin, Manet, Picasso and Pollock. The Museum is located in the museum and zoo complex in Ueno Park in Taito, central Tokyo. 

Charles-Édouard Jeanneret (1887 – 1965), known as Le Corbusier, was a Swiss-French architect, designer, painter, urban planner, writer, and one of the pioneers of what is now called modern architecture.

In 2016 UNESCO added the building to its list of significant architectural and historical sites, along with 16 other Le Corbusier projects. 

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Horezu Monastery | Romania

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The monastery of Horezu in Romania was founded in 1690. According to UNESCO, the monastery is a masterpiece of the 'Brancovan' style. It is known for its architectural purity and balance, the richness of its sculptural detail, the treatment of its religious compositions, its votive portraits and its painted decorative works. 

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Gaya Island | Malaysia

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The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park comprises a 5 islands off the coast of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia. 

Gaya is the largest island in the park and is covered with dense virgin, tropical forest. The coral reefs along the entire coast of Gaya island make it a great diving destination.

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Maluku | Indonesia

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Maluku is a province of Indonesia. It comprises the central and southern regions of the Maluku Islands. In the background you see the islands of Ternate and Tidore with the 1740 meters high mount Kiematubu.  

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Giant panda Liang Liang | Malaysia

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Liang Liang is a female ‘expat-panda’ from China. Now living in the National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

Two giant pandas have been on loan to Malaysia from China for 10 years since May 21, 2014 to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

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Corvo Island | Azores

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The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the North Atlantic Ocean: Santa Maria, São Jorge, Terceira, Graciosa, São Miguel, Pico, Faial, Flores and Corvo.  

Corvo Island is the smallest and the northernmost island of the Azores. The size of the island is about 6 by 4 kilometers with 400 inhabitants. In the distance you see the island of Flores.

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Australia's longest river

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The Murray River is Australia's longest river at 2,500 kilometres in length. It is the third longest navigable river in the world, after the Amazon and Nile.

 

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Australia post issued four stamps featuring Australian Owls: Sooty Owl, Rufous Owl, Eastern Grass Owl and the Southern Boobook.

Thx Steve!

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University of Coimbra | Portugal

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Situated on a hill overlooking the city, the University of Coimbra with its colleges grew and evolved over more than seven centuries within the old town.

This university is one of Europe’s oldest universities. Established in 1290 in Lisbon, it went through a number of relocations until it was moved permanently to its current city in 1537.

UNESCO World Heritage site since 2013.  

view on Coimbra

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The Big 5 of South Africa

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The "Big 5" refers to the African Cape buffalo, lion, rhino, leopard and elephant. The origin of the Big Five is at the beginning of the twentieth century. The white settlers went on hunting safaris. The Big Five refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot! The members of the Big Five were chosen for the difficulty in hunting them and the degree of danger involved.  

Here you see similar cards sent from Tanzania and Lesotho.

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Critically endangered birds, the Taita Falcon. Part of a set of 5 stamps, issued 2014. 

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Saint Sophia Cathedral in Polotsk | Belarus

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Polotsk is a historical city in Belarus, situated on the Dvina River. The city was a member of the Hanseatic League, an economic alliance of trading cities. 

Actually I’m not sure the city was a ‘full member’ or just had a Kontor (subsidiary trading post).

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“History of national communications” (issue 2013).

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Taka Bonerate National Park | Indonesia

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Taka Bone Rate National Park is a marine park in Indonesia. The park includes the Takabonerate atoll islands, located in the Flores Sea, south of Sulawesi island. 

With 2220 square kilometers, Taka Bone Rate is the world’s third-largest coral atoll. 

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Lofoten Islands | Norway

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Lofoten is an archipelago in northern Norway, located within the Arctic Circle. The archipelago is known for a distinctive scenery with mountains and peaks, open sea and sheltered bays, beaches and untouched lands. Winter scenery right out of a fairy tale, as you can see on the postcard picturing Hamnøy village.

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The stamp is part of a set of two bird stamps issued 2015 and shows the European Crested Tit. This bird is a widespread and common resident breeder in coniferous forests throughout central and northern Europe.

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Fort Jesus, Mombasa | Kenya

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Fort Jesus is a Portuguese fort built between 1593 and 1596 located on Mombasa Island to guard the Old Port of Mombasa. The fort is one of the most outstanding and well preserved examples of 16th-century Portuguese military fortifications. Fort Jesus is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2011.

Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya, with a population of about 1.3 million. The city is built on an island and connected to the mainland by two causeways.

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African Fish Eagle. The stamp is part of a series of bird stamps issued in 2014. 

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