Belarus - Grodno - Old Grodno Castle

Illustration of the Old Grodno Castle (also known as the Grodno Upper Castle or Bathory's Castle) in Grodno, Belarus.

Sent by Roxy from Grodno Oblast, Belarus.

The Old Grodno Castle (Belarusian: Стары замак, romanized: Stary zamak; also known as the Grodno Upper Castle and Bathory's Castle) in Grodno, Belarus, originated in the 11th century as the seat of a dynasty of Black Ruthenian rulers, descended from a younger son of Yaroslav the Wise of Kiev.

The first wooden castle was built in the 11th century at the confluence of the Neman and the Gorodnichanka rivers.

The 13th-century keep of the castle belonged to a type of Belarusian defensive tower represented by the Tower of Kamyanyets. Vytautas the Great rebuilt the castle in stone and added five Brick Gothic towers in 1391–98, transforming it into one of his main residences. Casimir IV Jagiellon also used to reside in Grodno alongside Lithuania's official capital Vilnius. It was there that the Polish Crown was offered to him, and it was there that he died in 1492 (read more).

USA - California - Beach and Surf

CALIFORNIA

Surfing and beach culture.

Sent by Emma from California, USA.

Do Californians take their surfing seriously? Consider this: In August 2018, the state assembly voted overwhelmingly to enshrine surfing as the state’s official sport, and a brand-new holiday was created too: September 20 is California Surfing Day. From the balmy shores of San Diego to the chilly waters of Northern California, the Golden State’s coastline offers the allure of perfect waves for every type of surfer. Consider taking a lesson from a pro or just watch from the beach—it’s totally epic (read more).

USA - Rhode Island - The Ocean State

The great and tiny State of Rhode Island was established 1n 1636, joined the union as the 13th state on May 29, 1790, and was the first to declare independence from Britain on May 4, 1774.

State Bird : RI Red Hen;

State Tree : Red Mapple;

State Flower : Violet;

State Motto : Hope;

Official Drink : Coffee Milk;

Size : 1240 sq. miles;

State Capital : Providence;

Home of the first circus, oldest penny arcade, world's largest big blue bug, first jazz festival, first Baptist Church, and the first Jewish synagogue. Rhode Island has more shipwrecks per mile than any other state.

Sent by Yiwei from Rhode Island, USA.

The Ocean State: (Official) This nickname was formulated to attract tourism to Rhode Island and appears on non-commercial license plates. "Ocean State" began appearing on Rhode Island license plates in 1972, replacing "Discover." The Rhode Island Tourism Division promotes over 400 miles of coastline. This is not all ocean frontage but includes Narragansett Bay extending inland from the Atlantic Ocean north to the center of the state. All Rhode Islanders live within a 30-minute drive to the Atlantic Ocean or Narragansett Bay (read more).

USA - Michigan - Mapcard (2)

MICHIGAN

The Great Lakes State.

Sent by Marc from Detroit in Michigan, USA.

The Michigan state motto is a great reminder of two things Michiganders hold dear: the Great Lakes that literally shape our state and the beauty found within those peninsulas. The Great Lakes — Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior — make up the largest freshwater system on the planet.

The Great Lakes are connected through a system of canals and connecting waterways, such as the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair. These enable water to flow from Lake Superior all the way to the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Atlantic Ocean (read more).

USA - Alabama - Mapcard (2)

Retro-style state map postcard - adapted from  classic 1950's greetings card.

Sent by Wyatt from Alabama, USA.

My other Alabama's mapcard is here.

USA - Oregon - Broken Top

Three Sisters and Broken Top.

Sent by Amanda from Portland in Oregon, USA.

Broken Top is a glacially eroded complex stratovolcano. It lies in the Cascade Volcanic Arc, part of the extensive Cascade Range in the U.S. state of Oregon. Located southeast of the Three Sisters peaks, the volcano, residing within the Three Sisters Wilderness, is 20 miles (32 km) west of Bend, Oregon, in Deschutes County. Eruptive activity stopped roughly 100,000 years ago, and erosion by glaciers has since reduced the volcano's cone to where its contents are exposed. There are two named glaciers on the peak, Bend and Crook Glacier.

Diverse species of flora and fauna inhabit the area, which is subject to frequent snowfall, occasional rain, and extreme temperature variation between seasons. Broken Top and its surrounding area constitute popular destinations for hiking, climbing, and scrambling. (read more)

USA - Texas - Austin (3)

Featuring iconic Austin landmarks and culture, including the University of Texas Tower, the State Capitol dome, bats and a guitar.

Sent by Alana from Austin in Texas, USA.

My other postcards of Austin are here and here.

USA - Florida - Dry Tortugas National Park (2)

DRY TORTUGAS NATIONAL PARK

Diverse marine life and coral reef in clear waters around.a seven-island archipelago are the treasures of this Florida park also known for its historic but unfinished military post, Fort Jefferson.

Sent by Kyra from South Carolina, USA.

Almost 70 miles (113 km) west of Key West lies the remote Dry Tortugas National Park. This 100-square mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands.  Accessible only by boat or seaplane, the park is known the world over as the home of magnificent Fort Jefferson, picturesque blue waters, superlative coral reefs and marine life, and the vast assortment of bird life that frequents the area (read more).

USA - Texas - Big Bend National Park (4)

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK

The Rio Grande, the Chisos Mountains, and part of the Chihuahuan Desert are celebrated features of this West Texas park also known for its canyons cut from ancient limestone.

Sent by Diane from South Dakota, USA. 

My other Big Bend National Park's postcards are here, here, and here.

USA - Maine - Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse

Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse

43° 39" 07.612 N  70° 13" 26.057 W

in Portland Harbor, South Portland ME

Sent by Gavin from Westbrook in Maine, USA.

Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse is the only caisson- style light station in the United States that visitors can walk to. Located on the breakwater at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland, the lighthouse has been an integral part of the history of Portland harbor and Casco Bay since 1897. It was listed on the National Historic Register in 1988.

The United States Coast Guard continues to maintain the aids to navigation, the light and fog signal, having transferred ownership of the lighthouse structure to the Spring Point Ledge Light Trust in 1998. The Trust is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) public charity committed to the preservation of the lighthouse (read more).

USA - Washington - Mount Rainier National Park (3)

MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK

The snow-capped active stratovolcano, known to Native Americans as Mount Tacoma, i the tallest peak in Washington's Cascade Range, towering over a park with meadows, glaciers, lakes, and waterfalls.

Sent by Kris from Spokane in Washington, USA.

Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning five major rivers. Subalpine wildflower meadows ring the icy volcano while ancient forest cloaks Mount Rainier’s lower slopes. Wildlife abounds in the park’s ecosystems. A lifetime of discovery awaits (read more).

Poland - Cracow's Historic Centre (4)

Historical buildings and scenes in Krakow, Poland, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sent by Jacek from Krakow, Poland. 

My other thress postcards of Cracow's Historic Centre are here, here, and here.

China - Mutianyu Section of The Great Wall of China

Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall.

Sent by Francoise from Beijing, China.

Mutianyu (Chinese: 慕田峪; pinyin: Mùtiányù) is a section of the Great Wall of China located in Huairou District within the city limits of Beijing 70 kilometers (43 mi) northeast of the center of the city. The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is connected with Jiankou in the west and Lianhuachi in the east. As one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall, the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs.

First built in the mid-6th century during the Northern Qi, the Mutianyu section is older than the better known Badaling section of the Great Wall. During the Ming dynasty, under the supervision of general Xu Da, construction of the present wall began, building over the previous wall. In 1404, a pass was built in the wall. In 1569, the Mutianyu Great Wall was rebuilt and still today most parts of it are well preserved. The Mutianyu Great Wall has the largest construction scale and best quality among all sections of Great Wall (read more).

China - Great Wall of China

Great Wall of China, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Sent by Moki from Hangzhou, China.

The Great Wall was continuously built from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century AD on the northern border of the country as the great military defence project of successive Chinese Empires, with a total length of more than 20,000 kilometers. The Great Wall begins in the east at Shanhaiguan in Hebei province and ends at Jiayuguan in Gansu province to the west. Its main body consists of walls, horse tracks, watch towers, and shelters on the wall, and includes fortresses and passes along the Wall.

The Great Wall reflects collision and exchanges between agricultural civilizations and nomadic civilizations in ancient China. It provides significant physical evidence of the far-sighted political strategic thinking and mighty military and national defence forces of central empires in ancient China, and is an outstanding example of the superb military architecture, technology and art of ancient China. It embodies unparalleled significance as the national symbol for safeguarding the security of the country and its people (read more).

China - Shandong Provice - City of Qingdao

The city of Qingdao, a vibrant port city located on the south coast of the Shandong Peninsula, known for its unique blend of eastern charm and Western influences. The tower on the left is Qingdao TV Tower.

Sent by Wong JunShi from Qingdao City, China.

Qingdao, archaicly known as Tsingtao, is a prefecture-level city in the eastern Shandong Province of China. Located on China's Yellow Sea coast, Qingdao was long an important fortress. In 1897, the city was ceded to Germany. For the Germans, Qingdao was a strategic trade center, port and base for its East Asia Squadron, allowing the German navy to project dominance in the Pacific. In 1914, following the outbreak of World War I, Japan occupied the city and the surrounding province during the Siege of Tsingtao. In 1915, China agreed to recognize Japan's special position in the territory through what became known as the Twenty-One Demands. In 1918, the Chinese government, under the control of the warlord Duan Qirui, secretly agreed to Japanese terms in exchange for a loan. Following the First World War, during the Paris Peace Conference, Japan secured agreements with the Allied powers to recognize its claim to the areas in Shandong, which included Qingdao, previously occupied by Germany. In 1922, Shandong reverted to Chinese control following the United States' mediation during the Washington Naval Conference. Today, Qingdao is a major nodal city of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that connects Continental and East Asia with Europe. It has the highest GDP of any city in the province (read more).

Finland - Satakunta - Pori

Trees on Yyteri Beach at the end of summer.

Sent by Päivi from Turku, Finland.

Pori (Finnish: [ˈpori]; Swedish: Björneborg [bjœːrneˈborj]; Latin: Arctopolis) is a city in Finland and the regional capital of Satakunta. It is located on the west coast of the country, on the Gulf of Bothnia. The population of Pori is approximately 83,000, while the sub-region has a population of approximately 128,000. It is the 10th most populous municipality in Finland, and the eighth most populous urban area in the country.

Pori is located some 10 kilometres (6 mi) from the Gulf of Bothnia, on the estuary of the Kokemäki River, 110 kilometres (68 mi) west of Tampere, 140 kilometres (87 mi) north of Turku and 241 kilometres (150 mi) north-west of Helsinki, the capital of Finland. Pori covers an area of 2,062.00 square kilometres (796.14 sq mi) of which 870.01 km² (335.91 sq mi) is water. The population density is 71.93/km² (186.3/sq mi) (read more).

Germany - Saxony - Kronentor Zwinger in Dresden

Kronentor (Crown Gate) at the Zwinger Palace in Dresden, Germany.

Sent by Sabine from Landau in der Pfalz, Germany.

Kronentor Zwinger, also known as the "Crown Gate" in Dresden, is a magnificent architectural feature situated in the heart of the Zwinger Palace complex. Located in the Altstadt (Old Town) of Dresden, this iconic gate serves as the main entrance to the Zwinger, a baroque masterpiece that houses some of the city's most renowned museums and art collections.

The Kronentor Zwinger stands out for its exquisite baroque design, characterized by elaborate ornamentation and a strikingly grandiose appearance. Designed by architect Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann and sculptor Balthasar Permoser, the gate is renowned for its impressive crown-shaped sculpture, which gives it its name. The ornate façade includes intricate reliefs and sculptures that embody the opulence and artistic flair of the early 18th century. The gate’s architectural splendor and its role as a symbol of Dresden's former grandeur make it a key attraction in the city (read more).

Indonesia - Jakarta

Cultural and iconic elements of Jakarta; MONAS (National Monument, also known as Monumen Nasional), Tari Yapong (a traditional dance from Jakarta), Ondel-ondel (Betawi folk performance figures, an icon of Jakarta), Soto Betawi (a traditional soup from the Betawi people), and Istana Merdeka (the offical residence of the President of the Republic of Indonesia).

Sent by Restu from East Jakarta, Indonesia

Bicycle (74)

Children on bicycles in a traditional Chinese hutong, a type of narrow alley. The words in Chinese at the top are translated as "light big alley".

Sent by Judy from Taipei, Taiwan.

Bicycle (73)

Vibrant, pop-art style, abstract illustration of bicycles with the word "Amsterdam" on the left side.

Sent by Susanne from Lelystad, Netherlands.

Australia - New South Wales - Blue Mountains (2)

Sunset at Blue Mountains, New South Wales.

Sent by Maria from Australia.

The Blue Mountains (Gundungurra/Dharug: Colomatta or Gulumada) are a mountainous region and a mountain range located in New South Wales, Australia. The region is considered to be part of the western outskirts of the Greater Sydney area. The region borders on Sydney's main metropolitan area, its foothills starting about 50 kilometres (31 mi) west of centre of the state capital, close to Penrith. The public's understanding of the extent of the Blue Mountains is varied, as it forms only part of an extensive mountainous area associated with the Great Dividing Range. As defined in 1970, the Blue Mountains region is bounded by the Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers in the east, the Coxs River and Lake Burragorang to the west and south, and the Wolgan and Colo rivers to the north. Geologically, it is situated in the central parts of the Sydney Basin.

The Blue Mountains Range comprises a range of mountains, plateau escarpments extending off the Great Dividing Range about 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi) northwest of Wolgan Gap in a generally southeasterly direction for about 96 kilometres (60 mi), terminating at Emu Plains. For about two-thirds of its length it is traversed by the Great Western Highway, the Main Western railway line and the proposed Blue Mountains tunnel. Several established towns are situated on its heights, including Katoomba, Blackheath, Mount Victoria, and Springwood. The range forms the watershed between Coxs River to the south and the Grose and Wolgan rivers to the north. The range contains the Explorer Range and the Bell Range (read more).

Australia - New South Wales - Sydney Opera House (3)

NEW SOUTH WALES

Sydney Opera House at sunset.

Sent by Maria from Australia.

My other two postcards of Sydney Opera House are here, and here.

Australia - Western Australia - Bungle Bungle Range

Bungle Bungle Range, Western Australia.

The range remained largely unknown except by local Aboriginal people and stockmen until 1982 when film-makers arrived and produced a documentary about the Kimberley. The area was gazetted as a National Park in 1987 and was also inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Purnululu National Park in 2003.

Sent by Krystiina from NSW, Australia.

The Bungle Bungle Range is a major landform and the main feature of the Purnululu National Park, situated in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

The distinctive beehive-shaped towers are made up of sandstones and conglomerates (rocks composed mainly of pebbles and boulders and cemented together by finer material). These sedimentary formations were deposited into the Red Basin 275 to 250 million years ago, when active faults altered the landscape. The combined effects of wind from the Tanami Desert and rainfall over millions of years shaped the domes.

The range is found on the plains fringing the eastern Kimberley region. The ranges consist of stacks of ancient seabeds with layers of dolomite contained throughout them. A 7-kilometre (4.3 mi) diameter circular topographic feature is clearly visible on satellite images of the Bungle Bungle Range. It is believed that this feature is the eroded remnant of a very ancient meteorite impact crater and is known as the Piccaninny crater (read more).