Germany - North Rhine-Westphalia/Lower Saxony - Ravensberg Basin

The area situated between the 

Teutoburg Forest

 and the 

Wiehen Hills

 is primarily occupied by the Ravensberg Basin (Ravensberger Mulde), a hilly cultural landscape in eastern Westphalia, Germany. 

Sent by Erika from Bielefeld in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

The Ravensberg Basin (German: Ravensberger Mulde) or Ravensberg Hills (Ravensberger Hügelland) is a natural region in the governorate of Detmold (Ostwestfalen-Lippe) in the northeastern part of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia; small elements also fall within the neighbouring state of Lower Saxony. It is part of the lower Weser Uplands and comprises low rolling hills bordered by the ranges of the Wiehen Hills in the north, Lippe Uplands in the east, Teutoburg Forest in the south and Osnabrück Hills in the west. The heart of the Ravensberg Basin is almost coincident with the cultural region of the Ravensberg Land (read more).

USA - Minnesota - Aerial Lift Bridge

The iconic Aerial Lift Bridge in Duluth, Minnesota. The structure is a major landmark in the port city and operates around the clock during the shipping season.

Sent by Tatiana from Duluth in Minnesota, USA.

The Aerial Lift Bridge, earlier known as the Aerial Bridge or Aerial Ferry Bridge, is a landmark in the port city of Duluth, Minnesota. The span began life in 1905 as the United States' first transporter bridge; only one other was ever constructed in the country, the Sky Ride in Chicago. The span was converted in 1929–1930 to a vertical-lift bridge, also rather uncommon, although there are six such bridges along Ontario's Welland Canal. It remains in operation. The bridge is owned and operated by the City of Duluth. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 22, 1973. The United States Army Corps of Engineers maintains a nearby maritime museum.

The bridge spans the Duluth Ship Canal, which was put through the miles-long sand spit named Minnesota Point – commonly called Park Point by locals – in 1870–1871. The natural mouth of the Saint Louis River is about seven miles (11 km) farther southeast, and is split between Minnesota and Wisconsin. Creating this gap in the sand spit meant that residents who lived on the new island needed to have a way to get across. Several transportation methods were tried, though they were complicated by the weather. Ferries could work in the summer, but ice caused problems in colder months. A swinging footbridge was used, but was considered rather rickety and unsafe (read more).

Viktor Tsoi #2

Sent by Olga from Krasnodar, Russia.

My other postcard of Viktor Tsoi is here.

Russia - Moscow - The Twelve Apostles Church

The Kremlin. The twelve Apostles Church.

Sent by Olya from Kaliningrad, Russia

The Patriarchal Chambers and the Church of the Twelve Apostles (Russian: церковь Двенадцати Апостолов, romanized: tserkov' Dvenadtsati Apostolov) is a minor cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, commissioned by Patriarch Nikon as part of his stately residence in 1653 and dedicated to Philip the Apostle three years later. Today, it is used by Moscow Kremlin Museums.

The church is almost as prominent as neighbouring grand cathedrals of the 15th century, due to its placement upon a high podium, pierced by two large arches allowing passage from the Cathedral Square to the patriarch's courtyard. The exterior walls are decorated with two belts of columned arches which reference both the neighbouring cathedrals of the Cathedral Square and the great churches of the 12th-century Vladimir-Suzdal school which had been their inspiration. The rigorous outline of five helmeted domes, in keeping with Nikon's conservative architectural tastes, serves to accentuate the church's Byzantine pedigree (read more).

Russia - Bashkortostan Republic - Traditional Tea Ceremony

Illustration showcases a traditional tea ceremony with a samovar. It highlights Bashkir cultural heritage and nomadic lifesyle elements.

Sent by Vlada from Ufa in Bashkortostan Republic, Russia.

The traditional tea ceremony in Bashkortostan is a vital cultural ritual centered on hospitality, commonly featuring black or herbal tea brewed in a samovar, served with milk, and accompanied by local delicacies like Bashkir honey, chak-chak, and flatbreads. Historically, this gathering served as a social anchor, often held to honor guests, facilitate community bonding, or celebrate festivals.

Russia - Krasnoyarsk Krai - Ivan Yarygin Sports Palace

Ivan Yarygin Sports Palace in Krasnoyarsk, featuring a statue of the famous werstler.

Sent by Kate from Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

The Ivan Yarigin sports palace is located in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, on an island in the Yenisei River. It was commissioned on 5 November 1981 as the "Enisey sports palace" and was designed by Vitaly Orekhov. The shape of the building resembles an old carvel ship, with its obtuse front, curvy sides and round windows. The venue can accommodate 3,300–5,000 spectators depending on the event. It was named for the Soviet wrestler Ivan Yarygin in 1998, and currently is the home arena of the basketball club BC Enisey.

The palace hosted the Winter Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR in 1982 and 1986. It supported national and international competitions in figure skating, wrestling, badminton, acrobatics, basketball, artistic gymnastics, boxing, ice hockey, karate and many other sports. The venue was reconstructed before the 1997 World Wrestling Championships, and ten years later hosted the Wrestling World Cup. It is open not only to competitions and shows, but also to daily training and rehabilitation activities. Two youth Olympic schools, for wrestling and weightlifting, are based there (read more).

Russia - Ulyanovsk Oblast - Ulyanovsk

Ulyanovsk. River Station.

Sent by Valleria from Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Ulyanovsk, known as Simbirsk until 1924, is a city and the administrative center of Ulyanovsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Volga River 705 kilometers (438 mi) east of Moscow. Ulyanovsk has been the only Russian UNESCO City of Literature since 2015.

The city was the birthplace of Vladimir Lenin (born Ulyanov), for whom it was renamed after his death in 1924; and of Alexander Kerensky, the leader of the Russian Provisional Government which Lenin overthrew during the October Revolution of 1917. It is also famous for its writers such as Ivan Goncharov, Nikolay Yazykov and Nikolay Karamzin, and for painters such as Arkady Plastov and Nikas Safronov (read more).

Russia - Tambov Oblast - Slavy Square

Michurinsk City

Glory Square

Slavy Square was founded on the site of the old Priyutskaya Square at the end of the 20th century. For the 50th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War in 1995, a memorial to the defenders of the Fatherland was erected on the square with funds donated by city residents. On May 9, 2005, the 60th anniversary of the Great Victory, the Eternal Flame was lit here. In 2010, the memorial was reconstructed. The author of the reconstruction was N.A. Averochkin, a member of the Union of Architects of Russia.

Sent by Daria from Tambov, Russia.

Michurinsk (Russian: Мичу́ринск) is the second most populous town in Tambov Oblast, Russia. Population: 98,758 (2010 census); 96,093 (2002 census); 109,081 (1989 Soviet census).

Originally known as Kozlov (Козло́в), its origin in a small monastery, founded in the forest in 1627. It became a settlement in 1635 at the northern end of the emerging Belgorod Line, a frontier defense line.^[ A 25-kilometer (16 mi) earthen wall was built eastward across the open steppe effectively blocking the Nogai Trail, a Tatar raiding route. The success of this line led to the building of further lines further south. The settlement was granted town status in 1779.

Situated on the highway to Astrakhan and at the head of water communication with the Don, the town soon became a centre of trade.

The town was renamed Michurinsk in 1932 after the biologist Ivan Michurin, who had developed a genetic laboratory and agricultural testing fields in the Tambov region, dedicated to pomology (the study of fruit growing) and selection (read more).

My Russia #14 - White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal

Suzdal, Vladimir region.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal.

Sent by Maria from Yekaterinburg in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia.

Suzdal (Russian: Суздаль, IPA: [ˈsuzdəlʲ]) is a town that serves as the administrative center of Suzdalsky District in Vladimir Oblast, Russia, which is located along the Kamenka tributary of the Nerl River, 26 km (16 mi) north of the city of Vladimir. As of the 2021 Census, its population was 9,286.

In the 12th century, Suzdal became the capital of the principality. Currently, Suzdal is the smallest of the Russian Golden Ring towns. It has several sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The town's history dates back to 999 and 1024. In 1125 Yury Dolgoruky made Suzdal the capital of the Rostov-Suzdal principality. In 1157, Andrei Bogolyubsky moved the capital from Suzdal to Vladimir, from which time the principality was known as Vladimir-Suzdal. Suzdal was burned and plundered in 1237 during the Mongol-led invasions; however, it remained a trade center afterward due to its location in a fertile wheat-growing area. In 1341, it united with Nizhny Novgorod until both were annexed by Moscow in 1392 (read more).

Russia - Siberia - Sayano-Shushenskoe Reservoir

Krasnoyarsk region in Siberia, Russia.

Sayano-Shushenskoe Reservoir

Sent by Tanya from Krasnoyarsk Krai in Russia.

The Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam (Russian: Сая́но-Шу́шенская гидроэлектроста́нция, Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydroelektrostantsiya) is located on the Yenisei River, near Sayanogorsk in Khakassia, Russia. It is the largest power plant in Russia and the 12th-largest hydroelectric plant in the world, by average power generation. The full legal name of the power plant, OJSC [Open Joint-Stock Society] P. S. Neporozhny Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP [hydro power plant], refers to the Soviet era Minister of Energy and Electrification Pyotr Neporozhny. As of 2009 the head of the power plant was Valery Kyari.

The plant is operated by RusHydro. As of 2009, it was the largest power plant in Russia and the world's sixth-largest hydroelectric plant by average power generation. It provides more than a quarter of RusHydro's generation capacity. The plant operated ten type РО-230/833-0-677 hydro turbines manufactured at the Leningradsky Metallichesky Zavod, each with a capacity of 640 MW at 194-metre (636 ft) head. The total installed capacity of the plant is 6,400 MW; its average annual production is 23.5 TWh, which peaked in 2021 at 29.4 TWh.

The station's constructions include the dam, a power plant building located near the dam, and an additional spillway which is under construction. The arch-gravity dam is 242 metres (794 ft) high. It has a crest length of 1,066 metres (3,497 ft), crest width of 25 metres (82 ft), base width of 105.7 metres (347 ft) and maximum head of 220 metres (720 ft). It consists of a solid left-bank dam 246.1 metres (807 ft) long, a power dam 331.8 metres (1,089 ft) long, a spillway dam 189.6 metres (622 ft) long and a solid right-bank dam 298.5 metres (979 ft) long. It is by far the larger of only two gravity-arch dams in Russia. Water pressure for the dam is approximately 30 million tons, of which 60% is neutralized by the dam's own weight and 40% is carried to rock on the bank

The dam is constructed to "safely" withstand earthquakes up to 8 on the Richter scale, and was recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records for the strongest construction of its type (read more).

My Russia #13 - Polar Night in Murmansk

Polar night in Murmansk.

Sent by Elena from Surgut in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia.

Every year, from December 2nd to January 11th, polar night sets in at Murmansk's latitude for 40 days. On the first day after the polar night, the sun rises over the city for only 19 minutes.

In winter, you can observe the Northern Lights—a stunningly beautiful natural phenomenon. That's why the Northern Lights are depicted on the city's coat of arms.

In summer, Murmansk experiences the polar day, which lasts 62 calendar days. For two months starting on May 20th, the sun doesn't set, and starting on July 24th, the sun barely touches the horizon for about a week before rising again. Throughout this period—until mid-August—nights in Murmansk are bright every year. This is why Murmansk is known as the city of white nights (read more).

Australia - Australian Capital Territory - Canberra

Canberra is the "Capital of Australia'. The Australian Commonwealth Government has been based in Canberra since 9th May, 1927.

Sent by Palmer from Canberra, Australia.

Canberra (/ˈkænbrə/ KAN-brə; Ngunawal: Kanbarra) is the capital city of Australia and the only substantial settlement of the Australian Capital Territory. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, a compromise between Melbourne and Sydney, it is Australia's largest inland city, and the eighth-largest Australian city by population. The city is located at the northern tip of the Australian Alps, the country's highest mountain range. As of June 2024, Canberra's estimated population was 473,855.

The area chosen for the capital had been inhabited by Aboriginal Australians for up to 21,000 years, by groups including the Ngunnawal and Ngambri. European settlement commenced in the first half of the 19th century, evidenced by surviving landmarks such as St John's Anglican Church and Blundells Cottage. On 1 January 1901, federation of the colonies of Australia was achieved. The capital city was founded and formally named as Canberra in 1913. Unusual among Australian cities, it is an entirely planned city, grounded in a design by American architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin. The Griffins' plan was influenced by garden city movement and featured geometric motifs aligned with significant topographical landmarks such as Black Mountain, Mount Ainslie, Capital Hill and City Hill. Its design can be viewed from its highest point at the Telstra Tower and the summit of Mount Ainslie. Other notable features include the National Arboretum and Lake Burley Griffin.

As the seat of the Government of Australia, Canberra is home to many important institutions of the federal government, national monuments and museums. These include Parliament House, Government House, the High Court building and the headquarters of numerous government agencies. Social and cultural institutions of national significance include the Australian War Memorial, the Australian National University, the Royal Australian Mint, the Australian Institute of Sport, the National Gallery, the National Museum and the National Library. The city is home to many important institutions of the Australian Defence Force including the Royal Military College Duntroon and the Australian Defence Force Academy. It hosts all foreign embassies in Australia as well as regional headquarters of many international organisations, not-for-profit groups, lobbying groups and professional associations (read more).

Netherlands - South Holland - Veerhaven in Rotterdam

Rotterdam, Netherlands.

The historic Veerhaven port area, contrasting old architecture with the modern city skyline.

Sent by Pixie from Ridderkerk, Netherlands.

Once in a while the city life overwhelms me. At those moments I tend to visit the Veerhaven, a place of beauty and silence just a short-distance walk from the Erasmusbrug. The Veerhaven is situated in the Scheepskwartier, a historic neighbourhood barely touched by the war and hence full of old and beautiful buildings. They began digging the Veerhaven in 1852 and completed it in 1854. Since then it is a spot for primarily sailing and other types of historical ships (like schooners and barks).

This history is still honoured today by the many restored (sailing)ships that moor the harbour. Ship-owners put in a lot of effort to maintain the ships in their perfect condition so you can enjoy them on a sunny afternoon. In the nineties the harbour was fully restored and brought back to its former glory. If you want to visit Rotterdam by boat the Veerhaven is a great place to moor for a couple of days.

Sit on a bench surrounded by silence and have a look at the magnificent ships, buy an ice-cream in the nearby ice-cream parlour or feast your eyes on the Maas, the lifeblood of the city. The Veerhaven has a lot to offer and is therefore one of my favourite spots in this wonderful city (read more).

Remarkable Women #10 - Anna Politkovskaya

Anna Politkovskaya, a Russian investigative journalist.

Sent by Laura from Krefeld in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Anna Stepanovna Politkovskaya (née Mazepa; 30 August 1958 – 7 October 2006) was a Russian investigative journalist who reported on political and social events in Russia, in particular, the Second Chechen War (1999–2005). She was found murdered in the elevator of her apartment block in Moscow on 7 October 2006, Vladimir Putin's birthday.

It was her reporting from Chechnya that made her national and international reputation. For seven years, she refused to give up reporting on the war despite numerous acts of intimidation and violence. Politkovskaya was arrested by Russian military forces in Chechnya and subjected to a mock execution. She was poisoned while flying from Moscow via Rostov-on-Don to help resolve the 2004 Beslan school hostage crisis, and had to turn back, requiring careful medical treatment in Moscow to restore her health.

Her post-1999 articles about conditions in Chechnya were turned into books several times; Russian readers' main access to her investigations and publications was through Novaya Gazeta, a Russian newspaper that featured critical investigative coverage of Russian political and social affairs. From 2000 onwards, she received numerous international awards for her work. In 2004, she published Putin's Russia, a personal account of Russia for a Western readership.

On 7 October 2006 (the 54th birthday of Russian president Vladimir Putin), she was murdered in the elevator of her block of apartments, an assassination that attracted international attention. In 2014, five men were sentenced to prison for the murder, but it is still unclear who ordered or paid for the contract killing (read more).