Thursday, June 19, 2014

Kazakhstan - Astana


Astana, Kazakstan
The Ak Orda Presidential Palace

Sent by Ainagul from Astana, Kazakhstan.

Astana (KazakhАстана), formerly known as Akmola  (Kazakh: Ақмола / Aqmola) until 1998, Tselinograd (Russian:Целиноград) until 1992 and Akmolinsk (RussianАкмолинск) until 1961), has been the capital of Kazakhstan since 1997, and is the country's second largest city (after Almaty, the former capital) with an officially estimated population of 814,401 as of 1 January 2014. It is located in the north portion of Kazakhstan, within Akmola Province, though administrated separately from the province as a federal city area. (read further)



U.S.A. - Idaho - Boise


BOISE, IDAHO
Idaho's capital city is a place where you can enjoy just about anything. It combines the hometown atmosphere with high tech companies. There are endlessrecreational opportunities, along with cultural activities and picturesque parks.

Sent by Sijbrich from Boise, USA.

Boise (/ˈbɔɪsi/) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River in southwestern Idaho, the population of Boise at the 2010 Census was 205,671, the 99th largest in the nation. Its estimated population in 2013 was 214,237 (read further)


Russia - Pskov Oblast - Pskov


Krom (or Kremlin) in Pskov.

Sent by Alina from Pskov, Russia.

Pskov (RussianПсковIPA: [pskof], ancient Russian spelling "Плѣсковъ", Pleskov) is a city and the administrative center of Pskov OblastRussia, located about 20 kilometers (12 mi) east from the Estonian border, on the Velikaya River. Population: 203,279 (2010 Census); 202,780 (2002 Census); 203,789 (1989 Census). (read further)



Russia - Oryol Oblast - Oryol/Orel


Esenin's Embankment.

Sent by Lena from Orel/Oryol, Russia.

Oryol or Orel (RussianОрёлIPA: [ɐˈrʲɵɫ], lit. eagle) is a city and the administrative center of Oryol OblastRussia, located on the Oka River, approximately 360 kilometers (220 mi) south-southwest of Moscow. Population: 317,747 (2010 Census); 333,310 (2002 Census); 336,862 (1989 Census). (read further)




Russia - Kaluga Oblast - Kaluga


Monument to K. Tsiolkovskyon Peace Square
(sculptor A. Faydysh-Krandievsky, architects M. Barshch and A.Kolchin).

Sent by Jachenka from Kaluga, Russia.

Kaluga (RussianКалугаIPA: [kɐˈlugə]) is a city and the administrative center of Kaluga OblastRussia, located on the Oka River 150 kilometers (93 mi) southwest of Moscow. Population: 324,698 (2010 Census); 334,751 (2002 Census); 311,319 (1989 Census). (read further)



Russia - Voronezh Oblast - Voronezh


Intercession Cathedral
Built in the 18th - 19th centuries.

Sent by Alina from Voronezh, Russia.

Voronezh (RussianВоронежIPA: [vɐˈronʲɪʂ]) is a city and the administrative center of Voronezh OblastRussia, located on both sides of the Voronezh River, 12 kilometers (7.5 mi) from where it flows into the Don. It is an operating center of the Southeastern Railway which connects European Russia with the Urals and Siberia, as well as the Caucasus and Ukraine). It is also the center of the M4 highway (Moscow-Voronezh-Rostov-on-Don). Population: 1,014,610 (2014 est.); 889,680 (2010 Census). (read further)


Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Lesotho


LESOTHO
Land of mountains and plateaux where the rugged terrain of this 'Kingdom in the Sky' is best covered by sturdy Basotho ponies.

Sent by Kelly's parents who visited Lesotho in May.

Lesotho (/lɨˈst/ li-soo-too), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country completely surrounded by South Africa. It is just over 30,000 km2 (11,583 sq mi) in size and has a population slightly over two million. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name Lesotho translates roughly into the land of the people who speak Sotho. About 40% of the population lives below the international poverty line of US $1.25 a day. (read further)




Trinidad and Tobago - Port of Spain


Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

Sent by Shane from Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

Port of Spain, also written as Port-of-Spain, is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third-largest municipality, after San Fernando and Chaguanas. The city has a municipal population of 49,031 (2000 census), a metropolitan population of 128,026 (1990 unofficial estimate) and a transient daily population of 250,000. It is located on the Gulf of Paria, on the northwest coast of the island of Trinidad and is part of a larger conurbation stretching from Chaguaramas in the west to Arima in the east with an estimated population of 600,000.
The city serves primarily as a retail and administrative centre and it has been the capital of the island since 1757. It is also an important financial services centre for the Caribbean and is home to two of the largest banks in the region. (read further)

U.S.A. - Nebraska - Lincoln


Lincoln, Nebraska
View from the Tower of the Nebraska State Capitol

Sent by Charlene from Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.

Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the state of Nebraska, after Omaha. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's population in 2012 was estimated at 265,404.
Lincoln was founded in 1856 as the village of Lancaster, and became the county seat of the newly created Lancaster County in 1859. The capital of Nebraska Territory had been Omaha since the creation of the territory in 1854; however, most of the territory's population lived south of the Platte River. After much of the territory south of the Platte considered annexation to Kansas, the legislature voted to move the capital south of the river and as far west as possible. The village of Lancaster was chosen, in part due to the salt flats andmarshes. (read further)




Saturday, June 7, 2014

U.S.A. - Delaware - Mapcard


DELAWARE

Sent by Sophie from Dover, USA.

Delaware (/ˈdɛləwɛər/) is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, to the northeast by New Jersey, and to the north by Pennsylvania. The state takes its name from Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, an English nobleman and Virginia's first colonial governor, after whom what is now called Cape Henlopen was originally named.
Delaware is located in the northeastern portion of the Delmarva Peninsula and is the second smallest, the sixth least populous, but the sixth most densely populated of the 50 United States. Delaware is divided into three counties. From north to south, these three counties are New Castle, Kent, and Sussex. While the southern two counties have historically been predominantly agricultural, New Castle County has been more industrialized. (read further)




Russia - Irkutsk Oblast - Irkutsk


View of Irkutsk city.

Sent by Anastasia from city of Irkutsk, Russia.

Irkutsk (RussianИркутскIPA: [ɪrˈkutsk]) is a city and the administrative center of Irkutsk OblastRussia, and one of the largest cities in Siberia. Population: 587,891 (2010 Census); 593,604 (2002 Census); 622,301 (1989 Census). (read further)


Russia - Krasnoyarsk Krai


View of Krasnoyarsk Pillar.

Sent by Ol'ka from Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

Krasnoyarsk Krai (RussianКрасноя́рский крайtr. Krasnoyarsky krayIPA: [krəsnɐˈjærskʲɪj kraj]) is a federal subject of Russia (a krai). It is the second largest federal subject after the Sakha Republic, Russia's largest krai and the third largest subnational governing body by area in the world, occupying an area of 2,339,700 square kilometers (903,400 sq mi), which is 13% of the country's total territory. The administrative center of the krai is the city of Krasnoyarsk. Population: 2,828,187 (2010 Census). (read further)




Russia - Tambov Oblast


The beehive is a symbol of Tambov and it appears on its coat of arms.

Sent by Olga from city of Tambov, Russia.

Tambov Oblast (RussianТамбо́вская о́бластьTambovskaya oblast) is a federal subject of Russia (anoblast). Its administrative center is the city of Tambov. Population: 1,091,994 (2010 Census). (read further)



U.S.A. - Alaska - Unalaska


UNALASKA - PORT OF DUTCH HARBOR
Sunset settles over Unalaska in vibrant blue and pink hues, providing a spectacular display against the brilliant green velvet-like backdrop of the valley and the rainbow colored homesthat dot the hillsides.

Sent by Grand Aleutian Hotel from Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, Alaska.

Unalaska (AleutIluulux̂) is a city in the Aleutians West Census Area, a regional component of the Unorganized Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. Unalaska is located on Unalaska Island and neighboring Amaknak Island in the Aleutian Islands off mainland Alaska. The population was 4,376 at the 2010 census, which is 79% of the entire Aleutians West Census Area. Unalaska is the second-largest city in the Unorganized Borough, behind Bethel. (read further)