Pagsanjan Falls, Philippines

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Pagsanjan Falls is one of the most famous waterfalls in the Philippines. Behind this waterfall you can find the Devil's Cave.

They named it devil's cave because of its structure that looks like a face of a devil.

 

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The stamp on the right is part of a set of “Se-tenant Pairs. Unlike the rest of the Philippines which gained independence from the United States in 1946, Olongapo-city was governed as a part of the United States naval reservation. In 1959 the Americans turned it over to Philippine government. 

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Nachi Falls, Japan

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The Nachi Waterfall, with a drop of 133m, is one of the highest waterfalls in Japan. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; it is part of the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range".

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Postojna Cave, 21 km of Stalactite Paradise

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This is the second postcard that Igor sent me, picturing Postojna Cave in Slovenia.

“Stalactite paradise on every corner

21 km of passages, galleries and magnificent halls offer a unique experience of the underground world. The Postojna cave is definitely one of the most diverse cave systems in the world.”

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Posta Slovenije issued a joint commemorative block with Austria entitled “Postojna cave, cave post office 1899″. On 15 August 1899, 500 meters from the entrance to the cave, the first underground post office in the world was opened. 

The Salamander-like creature on the cancellation is an Olm. It lives in caves like Postojna Cave.

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140 Years of Postojna Cave Railway

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Postojna Cave is a 20km long karst cave system near Postojna, Slovenia. It is one of the major tourist attractions in Slovenia, welcoming half a million visitors each year. Visitors are taken for a tour by a special cave train launched on 16 June 1872, celebrating its 140 years anniversary in 2012.

Igor was so kind to contact me and send me two Postojna Cave postcards. Thx Igor!

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A matching stamp. On 15 August 1899 the first underground post office in the world was opened in Postojna Cave. 

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Sunset over Larnaca Salt Lake, Cyprus

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The Larnaca Salt Lakes are located west of the city of Larnaca, near the main airport. During the winter months the lakes fills with water whilst in the summer the water evaporates, leaving a crust of salt and a haze of grey dust. During spring and autumn seasons, the Larnaca's Salt Lake is visited by many pink flamingos.

 

The Mosque of Umm Haram or Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque is located on the shores of Larnaca Salt Lake.

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Issued 2013, 100th Anniversary of the Cyprus Scouts Association.

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The capital of Argentina

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Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina.

The tango is a partner dance that originated in the 1870s along the Río de la Plata, the natural border between Argentina and Uruguay, and soon spread to the rest of the world.

Tango is a popular dance that has influences from European and African culture. It was originally considered a scandalous dance. But at present it is the representative dance of Argentina around the world.

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Northern Lights in Lapland, Finland

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Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights is a light display in the sky, particularly in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. This natural phenomenon paints the night sky with unearthly, surreal (green) color.

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In May 2013 Finland issued two (self-adhesive) Europa stamps, themed "The postman van". 

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Jökulsárlón-Glacier lagoon, Iceland

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“Ice and fire” – these are two words, which perfectly grasp the nature of Iceland. This postcard is about the Ice-part. Jökulsárlón is a large glacial lake in southeast Iceland.

This lagoon is a result of a warming climate. Situated at the head of Breiðamerkurjökull-glacier, it evolved into a lagoon after the glacier started receding from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean about 90 years ago. The lake has grown since then at varying rates because of melting of the Icelandic glaciers. The lagoon is not very wide but it is over 200 meters deep which makes it the deepest lake in Iceland.

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In May 2013 Iceland issued a sheet of four stamps with the Northern Lights as its theme. The northern lights can be seen anywhere in Iceland when the so-called aurora collar is over the country on a dark cloudless night. 

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Emperor Penguins from Antartica (T.A.A.F.)

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The Emperor Penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species and is endemic to Antarctica. The Emperor Penguin breeds in the coldest environment of any bird species; air temperatures may reach −40 °C. The penguins are well designed to withstand these harsh conditions. They have the highest feather density of any bird, about a hundred feathers per square inch.

The Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (T.A.A.F.) is an overseas territory of France.  

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Lyallia Cushion (Lyallia kerguelensis) is a perennial herb that is endemic to the subantarctic Kerguelen Islands, part of T.A.A.F. 

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Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (zoom level 3)

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In 2007 85 percent of the ice that covered the mountain in 1912 had been lost, and 26 percent of the ice there in 2000 is now gone.

The remaining ice fields atop of Mt Kilimanjaro could be gone within two decades and perhaps even sooner, based on the latest survey of the ice fields remaining on the mountain.

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Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (zoom level 2)

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At 19,336 feet, snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is Africa's highest peak. The vast ice fields of Kilimanjaro are melting at a faster pace than at any time over the past 100 years.

This is due more to land use than to global warming. Deforestation of the mountain's foothills is the more likely culprit. Without the forests'  humidity, previously moisture-laden winds blew dry. No longer replenished with water, the ice is evaporating in the strong equatorial sunshine.

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Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (zoom level 1)

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Kilimanjaro is one of the largest volcanoes in the World and it is the highest mountain in Africa. Even though the mountain is very close to the Equator, the peaks are so high that snow and ice can form on them. 

Covered in mist most of the day, Mt Kilimanjaro is the leading tourist attraction in Tanzania.

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Butterflies of Tanzania and Spiderwort plant.

Thx Mzee Steve!

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Le Coeur de Voh, New Caledonia

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"Coeur de Voh" is French for "Heart of Voh". It is a natural large formation of mangrove vegetation that resembles a heart. At ground level it is impossible to see the heart shape, it can only be seen from above.

Voh is a commune in the North Province of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.

 

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Unfortunately the stamp is missing. 

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The capital of the Philippines

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Manila is the capital city and the second largest city of the Philippines. On the left you see a Kales, a horse carriage, a popular way of transport for tourists in Manila. Originally introduced in the Philippines in the 18th century by the Spaniards.

A Jeepney is a popular means of public transportation in the Philippines. They are known for their crowded seating and flamboyant decorations.

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(right) A 2002 Christmas seal.

Philippine Christmas seals are produced and sold every year by the Philippine Tuberculosis Society.

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The capital of Croatia

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Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. The postcard shows 7 major sights: Zagreb Cathedral, Mimara museum, Mestrovic gallery, Zrinjevac square, Ban Josip Jelacic square, the National Theater and Dolac market.  

 

On the left you see the Zagreb Cathedral, the tallest building in Croatia.

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2010 issue, Croatian Ethnographic Heritage - Posavina

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The capital of Belgium

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Brussels is the capital of Belgium and could be considered as the capital of the European Union. Brussels hosts the official seats of the European Commission, Council of the European Union, and European Council, as well as a seat of the European Parliament.  

 

At a height of 90 meters the National Basilica of the Sacred Heart is one of the landmarks of the city of Brussels. Building started officially in 1905 but only in 1970 it was fully completed. The Basilica ranks fifth among the world’s largest churches.

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A swallowtail butterfly.

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The capital of Mexico

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Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world with over 20 million inhabitants (including Mexico City Metropolitan Area).

 

In the background you see Popocatépetl volcano (local name: Popo), a still active volcano. Popo is just too predictable to be considered a properly dangerous volcano. It vents off all its gas rather than storing it up, waiting to explode.

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Two stamps part of a large set of stamps picturing “Mexico Creacion Popular” (folk art). 

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The capital of Norway

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Oslo is the capital of and most populous city in Norway. Aker Brygge is a popular area in Oslo with a shopping mall, apartment buildings, offices, restaurants, bars and a theatre. It is one of Oslo’s primary attractions.

For more than a century Aker Brygge was the site of a shipyard. The architecture is a mixture of old and modern.

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Tourist stamp about active holidays: Hiking at Mount Gaustatoppen.

Thx Joan!

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The British Virgin Island of Tortola

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The British Virgin Islands is a British overseas territory located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. The four main islands are Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke.

Tortola is the largest and most populated of the British Virgin Islands. The Dutch settled there in 1615 and called it Ter Tholen. When the British took over, they altered the name to its present-day Tortola.

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(left) Issued in 2005 as part of a set of four stamps, Fruits Definitive , the Hog Plum.

(right) 2004 FESTIVAL GOLDEN anniversary, horse races. 

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Two nations, one Island: Saint Martin - Sint Maarten

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Saint Martin is an overseas collectivity of France located in the Caribbean. Sint Maarten is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It encompasses the southern half of Saint Martin.

Going clockwise we see:

Marigot, the main town and capital on the French side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin.

Orient Bay, a coastal community and beach on the French side of the island.

Grand Case Bay also known as "Gourmet Beach".

Pinel Island, a little island just off the coast of St. Maarten / St. Martin.

Thx Pat!

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