Tajikistan - Pamir Mountains

Roof of The World - Pamir's Mountains

Sent by Halim from Tajikistan.

This is from Wikipedia : The Pamir Mountains are a mountain range in Central Asia formed by the junction or knot of the Himalayas, Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun, and Hindu Kush ranges. They are among the world’s highest mountains and since Victorian times they have been known as the "Roof of the World" a probable translation from the Persian.

In other languages they are called: Kyrgyz Памир тоолору; Persian: رشته کوه های پامیر Reshte Kūh-hāye Pāmīr; Tajik: Кӯҳҳои Помир; Hindi: पामीर पर्वतमाला; Urdu: پامیر کوهستان; Uyghur: پامىر ئېگىزلىكى; Chinese: 帕米尔高原; pinyin: Pàmǐ'ěr Gāoyuán. Another Chinese name is Congling (cōnglǐng 葱嶺), (Wade-Giles: Ts'ung-ling) or "Onion Range" (after the wild onions growing in the region).

The precise extent of the Pamir Mountains is debatable. They lie mostly in Gorno-Badakhshan province, Tajikistan and Badakshan Province, Afghanistan. To the north they join the Tian Shan mountains along the Alay Valley of Kyrgyzstan. To the south they join the Hindu Kush mountains along the Wakhan Corridor in Afghanistan/Pakistan, and also Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan. To the east they may end on the Chinese border or extend to the range that includes Kongur Tagh which is sometimes included in the Kunlun Mountains.

The Pamir Mountains were prominently featured in the 1985 film, Spies Like Us starring Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd. They were even described by Austin Milbarge (Aykroyd) as being "the roof of the world" and having "sub-Arctic temperatures".

Its three highest mountains are Ismoil Somoni Peak (known from 1932–1962 as Stalin Peak, and from 1962–1998 as Communism Peak), 7,495 m (24,590 ft); Ibn Sina Peak (still unofficially known as Lenin Peak), 7,134 m (23,406 ft); and Peak Korzhenevskaya (Russian: Пик Корженевской, Pik Korzhenevskoi), 7,105 m (23,310 ft).

There are many glaciers in the Pamir Mountains, including the 77 km (48 mi) long Fedchenko Glacier, the longest in the former USSR and the longest glacier outside the Polar region.

Covered in snow throughout the year, the Pamirs have long and bitterly cold winters, and short, cool summers. Annual precipitation is about 130 mm (5 in), which supports grasslands but few trees.

Coal is mined in the west, though sheep herding in upper meadowlands are the primary source of income for the region.

Dominica - Sari Sari Falls

SARI SARI FALLS
A 30 minute hike from the east coast village of La Plaine leads to this stunning waterfall.

Sent by Gilles of Belgium who visited Dominica in early March.

"Located on the East coast of Dominica, Sari Sari are one of the most magnificent waterfalls in Dominica. Easily accessed through a 20-25 minutes hike following the river course.

Drive to the town of Laplaine south of Rosalie and take main street of this town driving west direction. You will recognize this street by a supermarket (Charlo’s Ecomart) which sits at the corner of the highway to Rosalie. Follow this street untill not possible to continue, park your car there.

At the beginning of the trail to Sari Sari falls you may be approached by the rasta guide Mr.Brown self-proclaimed the most popular guide in the area. Believe him or not, it’s always your choice to hire a local guide or not.

The hike to Sari Sari begins crossing a banana field and a clearing with a few wondering cows. Don’t panic if you don’t see an obvious path, keep walking North (or follow the sound of the river as you wish) and give credit to your intuition.You will quickly find a steep slope leading down to Sari Sari River.

Once down in the river just follow the river up across the lush rainforest, there is a clearly stepped in path next to it. You will need to cross the river Goge at least three times to get to Sari Sari falls. Overall this hike is very easy and should fit every age and fitness level, just pay attention to the slippery rocks. The last part of the trail requires you to climb a couple of challenging boulders, this is the only spicy section of the trail, however the impressive falls are visible from this point and you may choose to stay down."(Source)

Uruguay - Montevideo - Plaza de la Independencia (Independence Square)

INDEPENDENCE SQUARE
It emerged as a result of the demolition of the Fortress Walls. Carlos Zucchini started building it in 1837 and it was redesigned by Bernardo Ponchini in 1860. The monument of our national hero José Artigas, is situated in the middle of the Square.

Sent by Flo from Montevideo, Uruguay.

This is from Wikipedia : Plaza Independencia (Spanish for Independence Square) is the name of Montevideo's most important plaza. It seperates Ciudad Vieja from downtown Montevideo, with the Gateway of The Citadel on one side and the beginning of 18 de Julio avenue on the other.

Many important buildings, such as the Solís Theatre and the workplaces of the President of Uruguay (both the Estévez Palace and the future Executive Tower) are located by this square.

Indian Symbols

INDIAN SYMBOLS

Sent by Kristen, a postcrosser from New Hampshire, USA.

Finland - Hämeenlinna - Häme Castle

Häme Castle in Hämeenlinna.

Sent by Tupulinna, a postcrosser from Finland.

This is from Wikipedia : Häme Castle (Finnish: Hämeen linna, Swedish: Tavastehus slott) is a medieval castle in Hämeenlinna, Finland. The castle is located on the coast of lake Vanajavesi in the city center. The castle was originally located on an island.

The castle's age is disputed. Traditionally the construction of the castle has been connected to the legendary Second Swedish Crusade which would date the castle in the mid-13th century. However, there are no finds from the castle that can be firmly dated to a period earlier than 1320s. Also the contents of the crusade legend have been seriously contested. An earlier fortification from about 1300 only some 20 kilometres (12 mi) away in Hakoinen also makes a 14th century dating for Häme Castle more probable[citation needed]. Only one castle ("Tauestahus") is listed in Tavastia in a royal document from 1308. Also, the Russian Novgorod Chronicle only mentions one castle during their plundering of Tavastia in 1311, its description matching well with the castle in Hakoinen:

The men of Novgorod went in war over sea to the country of the Germans (Swedes), against the Finnish (Yem) people – – And the Germans fell back into the citadel. For the place was very strong and firm, on a high rock, not having access from any side. And they sent with greeting, asking for peace, but the men of Novgorod did not grant peace, and they stood three days and three nights wasting the district.

The construction of Häme castle probably started after the Novgorod invasion. The first castle was made of gray stone, and later bricks were used.

The castle lost military importance by the end of the 16th century. Its defensive systems were upgraded in the 18th century with bastions around the castle. The castle became a prison in the 19th century and served as such until 1953, when massive restoration work started. The castle has been a museum since 1988. Facilities can also be rented for private events.

USA - Kentucky - Covington Landing At Rivercenter

COVINGTON LANDING AT RIVERCENTER
Covington, Kentucky
Covington Landing is the largest floating entertainment complex on the inland waterways. It includes a replica steamboat and a wharfhouse that includes several restaurants, entertainments areas and shops.

Sent by Gretchen, a postcrosser from USA.

Germany - Steinhude

Views of Steinhude.

Sent by Reni, a postcrosser from Hannover/Lower Saxony, Germany.

This is from Wikipedia : Steinhude is a village in the borough of Wunstorf in Hanover Region in the German state of Lower Saxony. It is a tourist resort on the southern shore of Lake Steinhude. Once a small, quiet fishing village, today Steinhude is well known as a recreation centre in the Steinhuder Meer Nature Park.

Steinhude lies on the southern shore of Lake Steinhude. To the east, the fishing village has grown and merged with its neighbouring village of Großenheidorn. To the south is the B 441 federal road and a small copse, the Hoheholz. Another landmark to the south is the 140m high potash heap near Bokeloh. Steinhude is linked to its western neighbour, Hagenburg, by a 1.5 km long lakeside promenade.

The shore of Lake Steinhude has been settled since early times. Steinhude itself was first mentioned in the records at the end of the 13th century as Stenhuthe. The small settlement lived by farming the land and fishing and, in the 17th century, became a market town. In 1641, during the Thirty Years War, the fishing village was almost totally destroyed. In the 18th century, linen weaving became the most important source of income. There was a chocolate factory in Steinhude as early as the mid-18th century, one of the first in Germany.

Administratively, Steinhude belonged to the Amt of Hagenburg and was ruled by the counts of Schaumburg. Following the division of that county in 1640, Steinhude became part of the county of Schaumburg-Lippe.

In the period 1761-1767 Count William I of Schaumburg-Lippe had the fort of Wilhelmstein built on an artificial island in the lake.

In the 20th century the small village begin to expand into a tourist resort. The influx of refugees after the Second World War, the increase in tourism and a modest upturn in the economy led to a significant growth in the size of the place.

After the Second World War in 1945 there were several major changes in the appearance of the village and surrounding landscape. Another artificial island, 35000 m² in area, the swimming island (Badeinsel) was built in 1975. Between Steinhude and Hagenburg an embankment was constructed and made into a lakeside promenade. Until 1964 the Steinhude Lake Railway (Steinhuder Meer-Bahn or StMB), a narrow gauge railway, ran from Wunstorf to Uchte, through Steinhude.

The Schaumburg municipality of Steinhude was incorporated into the borough of Wunstorf in the district of Hanover as part of the regional reform of 1974. In 2001 Hanover district became Hanover Region.

USA - Connecticut - State Bird

American Robin, state bird of Connecticut.

Sent by Emma, a postcrosser from Connecticut, USA.

"Connecticut designated the American Robin (Turdus migratorius) as state bird in 1943. The Robin is also the official state bird of Michigan and Wisconsin. Robins are a true thrush and one of America's favorite songbirds. Migratory robins are watched for each year as the heralder of spring, but many spend the entire winter in New England swamps, roosting in evergreens and feeding on winter berries.

Robins were named by early settlers after the familiar robin red- breast of Europe (a bird with similar markings that is not closely related to the American Robin). The most widespread thrush in North America (because of its adaptation to human- modified habitats), robins are a familiar backyard bird often observed pulling up earthworms on suburban lawns.

The American robin has many vocalizations - rich songs composed of long phrases and "whinny" and "tut" calls. The female is muted in color compared to the male."(Source)

USA - Utah - Zion National Park (2)

Zion National Park
The iron oxide which reddens most of the walls of Zion National Park has leached from the upper part of the Great White Throne, a prominent monolith of Navajo sandstone in Zion Canyon.

Sent by Beth, a postcrosser from USA.

United Kingdom - England - City of Bath

Detail, Green Park Station (1869-70).

Sent by Karen, a postcrosser from England.

After the conquest of Britain in AD 43 by the Romans many of the hot baths constructed in Europe have become major historic cities. Aquae Sulis, constructed in 60-70, continues, under the name of Bath, to be a renowned spa. Its apogee was in the 18th century. The Romans built a temple there dedicated to Sulis, a local divinity whom they associated with Minerva, as well as a hot bath and including two pools, five baths (four Roman and one medieval) and all the standard equipment of tepidaria, frigidaria and hypocausts. These hot baths and its source, which yields over 1,200,000 litres of water daily at more than 46 °C, were built between the 1st and 4th centuries, and their gradual rediscovery began in 1755.

After the fall of the old Roman city, medieval Bath became a major wool-producing centre. The religious influence of the city was considerable from 1091 to 1206. A cathedral was built during the episcopacy of Robert de Lewes; it was demolished shortly after 1495 and was later reconstructed as an abbey church in the Perpendicular style. The abbey church was still uncompleted at the time of the Reformation and the work was finished with great difficulty shortly before it was dedicated in 1609.

In the 18th century, the medium-sized city of Avon experienced an extraordinary rebirth under the impetus of three exceptional figures: John Wood, Ralph Allen and Richard 'Beau' Nash, who had the ambition to make it one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, an ideal site where architecture and the landscape would combine harmoniously for the delight of the enlightened cure-takers.

The neoclassical style of the grand public buildings (the Rooms, the Pump Room, the Circus, and especially, Royal Crescent) reflected the ambitions of Bath under the reign of George III. Whether of disproportionate or reduced dimensions, the neoclassical constructions of Bath all express the great influence of Palladio, whom Wood, Allen and Adam considered to be their master. (Source)

Canada - Ontario - Barrie

Barrie, the fastest growing city north of Toronto, holds strong to its small town charm.

Sent by Donna, a postcrosser from Barrie, Ontario in Canada.

This is from Wikipedia : Barrie is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada, located on the western shore of Lake Simcoe. Although located in Simcoe County, the city is politically independent. Barrie is located within the northern part of the Greater Golden Horseshoe, a densely populated and industrialized region of Ontario.

In 2011 the city's population was 135,711 residents, making it the 34th largest in Canada. The Barrie metropolitan area has a population of 187,013 residents, making it the 21st largest, and one of the fastest growing census metropolitan areas in the country.

Belarus - Minsk - Belarus State Circus

Belarus State Circus.

Sent by Tanya, a postcrosser from Minsk, Belarus.

"After the USSR nationalized circuses in all major cities, a strong love for the performing art has remained in former Soviet countries and Belarus is no exception. The beautiful rotunda of the Belarusian National State Circus, extensively renovated in 2010, right outside of Gorky Park, is a testament to how seriously the country takes its circus. Unlike the Philharmonic or the Opera, the Circus' season continues year-round throughout the summer, and performances take place multiple times a week. Bring along the little ones and sit in awe as international dancers, acrobats, magicians, and trained animals of all sorts perform for the crowds."(Source)

Brazil - Paraná - Guaratuba

Guaratuba - Paraná - Brasil.

Sent by Sabino, a postcrosser from Brazil.

This is from Wikipedia : Guaratuba is a city in the state of Paraná, Brazil. Founded on 1765, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches of Paraná.

The King of Portugal, Dom Jose I, worried about possible foreign raids of the Brazilian coast,commanded that villages and towns be established in more suitable locations to the projecting or dispersed small farms where the conditions were favourable. It was decided that a town should be founded between the villages of Paranaguá and of the River San Francisco. On 5 December 1765, Dom Luis sent a group of settlers to begin building the town. This comprised 200 couples, who would cultivate discovered lands. Thus Guaratuba began to take shape. In July 1766, the Conde de Oeiras directed Dom Luis praising, on behalf of the King, the projects to establish the population in the cove of Guaratuba and informed him that the King would like that the new village bear his name, S. Luis.

In 13 of May 1768, Dom Luis granted the royal charter requested by the founder of the new town which consisted of the creation and maintenance of a church. Dom Luis, in 23 of January of 1770, commanded his assistant lieutenant-colonel Alfonso Botelho de Sampaio e Sousa, who erected in village the small farm called Guaratuba, where there were already houses and other buildings. After some expeditions, on 27 April 1771, Dom Luis returned to Guaratuba. On the 28th day of that month, the Church was blessed and on the 29th the village of São Luís de Guaratuba was formally named. On 30 April 1771, the first city council was elected with the approval of the founder of the village and the provincial governor . The councillors thenceforth guided the fortunes citizens of Guaratuba, subject to the authority of the provincial governor (up to 1854 Paraná belonged to the province of São Paulo), until the Declaration of the Republic, when a new political system canme into effect. Its first elected mayor took office in 1792, thus continuing up to 20 of October 1838, when by the Act no. 7572, the city ceased to exist in its former status and was constituted as the municipality of Paranaguá. It was not until 10 October 1847, by the Act no. 02 of that year, that the city recovered its independence, being reinstalled on 25 of October of the same year. In this new phase, the first mayor was Mr. Berilo da Cunha Padilha. In 1954, the city of Guaratuba became part of the Jurisdiction of Sao Jose dos Pinhais. Finally on July 1986 Guaratuba obtained municipal independence.

The Guaratuba name means "many guarás". This name was conceived by the natives who at the time inhabited this region when the discovery of Brazil by the Portuguese people. Guará is the name of a bird of red plumage that existed in abundance in this area and that even protected for the authorities, they had been extincted. Tuba means extreme amount in the aboriginal language.

Brazil - Londrina

LONDRINA
Estado do Paraná - Brasil.

Sent by Marco, a postcrosser from Ivoti, Brazil.

This is from Wikipedia : Londrina (Portuguese pronunciation: [lõˈdɾĩnɐ], Londoner) is a city located in the northern region of the state of Paraná, Brazil, and is 369 km away from the capital, Curitiba. Londrina was originally founded by British settlers. The city exerts great influence on Paraná and Brazil's south region. Londrina has approximately 500,000 inhabitants, being the second largest city in Paraná and the third largest city in the Southern Region of Brazil.

The city has a population of 506,645 (IBGE Census 2010) and 1,087,815 in its metropolitan area. It is a regional centre and is made up of commerce, services, agro-industries, and universities, including the State University of Londrina, or UEL.

Londrina was named after the British entrepreneurs who launched railroad stations in the region to ease the transportation of coffee grains from northern Paraná and southern São Paulo states to the port of Santos. The Londrina name pays homage to the English capital London (Londres in Portuguese), since an English cotton company made the original investment to settle in this area. The city's population consists of descendants of those settlers, Brazilians from other cities or states, Portuguese, English, Japanese, Italian, German, Polish, African, Spanish, Native, Arabian and Bulgarian Brazilians.

Germany - Laboe Naval Memorial

Marine-Ehrenmal Laboe or Laboe Naval Memorial.

Sent by Daja, a postcrosser from Germany.

This is from Wikipedia : The Laboe Naval Memorial is a memorial located in Laboe, near Kiel, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Started in 1927 and completed in 1936, the monument originally memorialized the World War I war dead of the Kaiserliche Marine, with the Kriegsmarine dead of World War II being added after 1945. In 1954, it was rededicated to commemorate the sailors of all nationalities who died during the World Wars.

The monument consists of a 72-metre high tower with an observation deck atop the tower. The deck stands a total 85 m above sea level. A hall of remembrance and World War II-era German submarine U-995, which houses a technical museum, both sit near the foot of the monument, and the site is a popular tourist venue. U-995 is the world's only remaining Type VII U-boat.

The tower was designed by architect Gustav August Munzer, who stated that the form was not meant to represent anything specific but was to inspire positive feelings in those who look at it. It is frequently associated with the stem of a viking ship or the conning tower of a submarine.

The Monument to Italian Sailors in Brindisi, Italy (begun in 1932, dedicated in 1933) bears a resemblance to the Laboe tower.

Brazil - Pernambuco - Maracatu

Maracatu - Olinda - PE Brasil.

Sent by João, a postcrosser from São Paulo, Brazil.

This is from Wikipedia : Maracatu is a term common to two distinct performance genres found in Pernambuco state in northeastern Brazil: maracatu de nação (nation-style maracatu) and maracatu rural (rural-style maracatu). A third style, maracatu cearense (Ceará-style maracatu), is found in Fortaleza, in the northeastern state of Ceará. Maracatu also designates the music style that accompanies these performances.

Romania - St. Ana Monastery

St. Ana Monastery in Orsova, Romania.

Sent by Adrian, a postcrosser from Romania.

"The St. Ana Monastery placed on the Danube Gorge, one of the most beautiful parts of nature in our country. The Danube Gorge is full of Christ elements: trinity’s, churches, monasteries (Vodita, Mraconia, St Ana. The settlement is a convent of nuns monastic life in common with, located in Orsova, Mehedinti county, and who has the dedication feast of St. Anna, commemorated on 25 iulie. St. Ana Monastery is located on the crest of the hill Mosul, which dominates the town of Orsova. This monastery has a special history, being founded by the famous journalist Pamfil Seicaru, who fought in the area as a young lieutenant. What caused him to rise a monastery is a random spent during the war, which deeply chance. In autumn 1916, on the hill, the journalist was covered with earth, along with his fellow, Petre Gavanescu, by an artillery shell at very short distance from them. (Source)"

Taiwan - Railway of Ali Mountain

Railway of Ali Mountain, Jia-Yi.

Sent by Ching, a postcrosser from Taiwan.

This is from Wikipedia : The Alishan Forest Railway (阿里山森林鐵路) is an 86 km network of 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow-gauge railways running up to and throughout the popular mountain resort of Alishan in Chiayi County, Taiwan. The railway, originally constructed for logging, is itself a tourist attraction with unique Z-shaped switchbacks, 50 tunnels, and over 77 wooden bridges.

The narrow-gauge lines were originally constructed by the Japanese Colonial Government in 1912 to facilitate the logging of cypress and Taiwania wood, however today the line caters mostly to tourists. Passenger carriages were first added to the trains in 1918. The first motive power was a Shay locomotive purchased second hand from the Kiso Forest Railway in Japan. Eventually the railway acquired 20 Shay locomotives.

The completion of the Alishan Highway in 1982 led to the loss of many rail passengers to faster and cheaper buses and the rail became primarily a tourist attraction.

Accidents on the line have resulted in a number of fatalities over the years. On 24 April 1981, a collapsed tunnel resulted in nine deaths and 13 injuries. On 1 March 2003, 17 people were killed and 156 injured when a train derailed near Alishan Railway Station. On 27 April 2011, five tourists, including three from mainland China, were killed and 113 people injured in a derailment.

The railway line was severely damaged by rains associated with 2009's Typhoon Morakot and, as of 2009, an unrepaired section from 2008 typhoons required tourists to disembark at one point and climb about 500m.

Unlike the national rail system administered by the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA), the Alishan Forest Railway is managed by the Council of Agriculture's (COA) Forestry Bureau. It was privatized through a build-operate-transfer (BOT) in June 2008 and maintained by the Hungtu Alishan International Development Corporation.

However, the Forestry Bureau terminated the contract with Hungtu after damage to the railway caused by Typhoon Morakot in 2009 was not repaired to satisfaction. As of January 2011, the Forestry Bureau and Hungtu were still engaged in lawsuits over the issue to determine who has the right to manage the railway. In May 2011, the COA announce that it intended to transfer control of the railway to the TRA before the end of the year.

The system is currently operated using diesel locomotives, although there are occasional special public runs using the old steam powered Shay locomotives.

Taiwan's government has listed the forest railway as a potential World Heritage Site. However, Taiwan's exclusion from the United Nations means it is unlikely to be formally recognized as a WHS in the near future.

USA - California - Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree is a rock-climbers paradise, providing beautiful vistas of the desert to those that scale these grand boulders. The geologic landscape of Joshua Tree has long fascinated visitors to this desert. These rocks, referred to as monzogranite, took on their fantastic shapes millions of years ago through the forces of volcanism and erosion.

Sent by The Colliers, postcrossers from California, USA.

This is from Wikipedia : Joshua Tree National Park is located in southeastern California. Declared a U.S. National Park in 1994 when the U.S. Congress passed the California Desert Protection Act (Public Law 103-433), it had previously been a U.S. National Monument since 1936. It is named for the Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) forests native to the park. It covers a land area of 790,636 acres (1,235.37 sq mi; 3,199.59 km2) – an area slightly larger than the state of Rhode Island. A large part of the park, some 429,690 acres (173,890 ha), is a designated wilderness area. Straddling the San Bernardino County/Riverside County border, the park includes parts of two deserts, each an ecosystem whose characteristics are determined primarily by elevation: the higher Mojave Desert and lower Colorado Desert. The Little San Bernardino Mountains run through the southwest edge of the park.

The higher and slightly cooler Mojave Desert is the special habitat of Yucca brevifolia, the Joshua tree for which the park is named. It occurs in patterns from dense forests to distantly spaced specimens. In addition to Joshua tree forests, the western part of the park includes some of the most interesting geologic displays found in California's deserts. The dominant geologic features of this landscape are hills of bare rock, usually broken up into loose boulders. These hills are popular amongst rock climbing and scrambling enthusiasts. The flatland between these hills is sparsely forested with Joshua trees. Together with the boulder piles and Skull Rock, the trees make the landscape otherworldly.

Joshua trees dominate the open spaces of the park, but in among the rock outcroppings are piñon pine, California juniper (Juniperus californica) and scrub oak. These communities are under some stress, however. The climate was wetter until the 1930s. The same hot and dry conditions that provoked the Dust Bowl affected the local climate. These cycles were nothing new, but the original vegetation did not prosper when wetter cycles returned, however. The difference may have been human development. Cattle grazing took out some of the natural cover and made it less resistant to the changes. But the bigger problem seems to be invasive species, such as cheatgrass. These things deliver a double punch. During wetter periods, they fill in below and among the pines and oak. In drier times, they die back, but do not quickly decompose. This makes wildfires hotter and more destructive, which kills some of the trees that would have otherwise survived. When the area regenerates, these non-native grasses form a thick layer of turf that makes it harder for the pine and oak seedlings to get a roothold.

Below 3,000 feet (910 m), the Colorado Desert encompasses the eastern part of the park and features habitats of Creosote bush scrub; Ocotillo, desert Saltbush and mixed scrub including Yucca and Cholla cactus (Cylindropuntia bigelovii). There are areas of such cactus density they appear as natural gardens. The lower Coachella Valley is on the southeastern side of the Park with sandy soil grasslands and desert dunes.

The only palm native to California, the California Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera), occurs naturally in five oases in the park, rare areas where water occurs naturally year round and all forms of wildlife abound.

Macedonia - Woman's Traditional Costume

Macedonian woman in traditional costume.

Sent by Ana from Macedonia.

Finland - Tornio

Multiviews of Tornio, Finland.

Sent by Sansku, a postcrosser from Tornio, Finland.

This is from Wikipedia : Tornio (Official name: Tornion kaupunki; in Northern Sami: Duortnus; in Swedish: Torneå) is a town and municipality in Lapland, Finland. The municipality covers an area of 1,348.55 square kilometres (520.68 sq mi) of which 161.59 km2 (62.39 sq mi) is water. The population density is 18.98 inhabitants per square kilometre (49.2 /sq mi), with a total population of 22,525 (31 January 2012). It borders to the Swedish municipality of Haparanda (in Finnish: Haaparanta). Tornio is unilingually Finnish.

The delta of the Torne river has been inhabited since the end of the last ice age, and there are currently (1995) 16 settlement sites (boplatsvallar) known in the area, similar to those found in Vuollerim (c.6000–5000 BC). The Swedish part of the region is not far from the oldest permanent settlement site found in Scandinavia. A former theory that this region was uninhabited and "colonised" from the Viking Age onward has now been abandoned.

The church spire at Tornio was one of the landmarks used by de Maupertuis in his measurements. The church was constructed in 1686 by Matti Joosepinpoika Härmä.

Until the 19th century, inhabitants of the surrounding countryside spoke Kemi Sami, a language of the Eastern Sami group similar to Finnish, while those of the town were mainly Swedish-speaking.

Tornio was named Torneå in Swedish after Torne å, an alternative name of the river, and later fennicized Tornio.

The town received its charter from the King of Sweden in 1621 and was officially founded on the island of Suensaari (literally "Wolf Island", probably named after one of the main landowners of the past). The charter was in recognition of Tornio being the hub of all trade in Lapland throughout the 16th century. It was the largest merchant town in the North at the time and for some years ranked as the richest town in the Swedish realm. Despite the lively trade with Lapland and overseas, the population of the town remained stable for hundreds of years at little over 500.

During the 18th century Tornio was visited by several expeditions from Central Europe who came to discover the Arctic. The most notable expedition (1736–1737) was led by a member of the Académie française, Pierre Louis Moreau de Maupertuis, who came to take meridian arc measurements along the Torne River Valley which would show that the globe is flattened towards the poles.

The Lapland trade on which Tornio depended started to decline in the 18th century, and the harbour had to be moved downriver twice as a result of the rising of the land (post-glacial rebound), which made the river too shallow for navigation. However, the greatest blow to the wealth of the town came in the last war between Sweden and Russia in 1808, which saw the Russians capture and annex Finland. The border was drawn through the deepest channel of the Muonio and Tornio rivers, splitting Lapland in two parts, hurting the trade. Tornio ended up on the Russian side of the border on special insistence by the Russian czar. The Swedes developed the village of Haaparanta (present day Haparanda) on their side of the border, to balance the loss of Tornio, and Tornio became unilingually Finnish.

During the Russian period Tornio was a sleepy garrison town. Trade only livened up during the Crimean War and the First World War, when Tornio became an important border crossing for goods and people. During the First World War Tornio and Haparanda had the only rail link to connect the Russians to their Western allies.

After the independence of Finland in 1917 Tornio lost its garrison and saw further decline although its population increased steadily. The town played no role of importance in the Finnish Civil War, but was the scene of some fierce street fighting at the onset of the Lapland War between Finland and Nazi Germany. The quick liberation of the town by the Finnish forces probably saved it from being burned down like so many other towns in Lapland. As a result the beautiful wooden church from 1686 can still be admired today.

After World War II, the town created new employment with the success of the local brewery Lapin Kulta and the stainless steel factory Outokumpu. Tourism based on the border has been a growing industry too. The town is a centre of education for Western Lapland with a vocational college and a university of applied sciences.

Tornio and Haparanda have a history as twin cities, and are set to merge under the name EuroCity. A new city centre is under construction on the international border and several municipal services are shared. The towns also have a common golf course, situated astride the border. The new IKEA store in Haparanda has signposting in Finnish as well as in Swedish, and all prices are signposted in two currencies.

Germany - Dorsten

Multiviews of Dorsten, Germany.

Sent by Doris, a postcrosser from Germany.

This is from Wikipedia : Dorsten (German pronunciation: [ˈdɔʁstən]) is a town in the district of Recklinghausen in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and has a population of just below 80,000.

Dorsten is situated on the western rim of Westphalia bordering the Rhineland. Its historical old town lies on the south bank of the river Lippe and the Wesel–Datteln Canal and was granted city rights in 1251. During the twentieth century, the town was enlarged in its north by the villages of the former Herrlichkeit Lembeck. While Dorsten's northern districts are thus shaped by the rural Münsterland with its many historical castles, just south of the town the Ruhr region begins, Germany's largest urban agglomeration with more than seven million inhabitants.

The exact linguistic derivation of the word “Dorsten” is unknown, leaving the meaning of the town’s name unclear.

Archaeological findings show that the area was already populated during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, from about 4000 BC onwards. The Romans established a military camp in Dorsten-Holsterhausen in 11 BC and Varus passed through it in 9BC on his way to the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.

From around 700 AD onwards, the Archbishopric of Cologne began to evangelise the area around Dorsten. Archbishop Konrad von Hochstaden, together with the Count of Cleves, granted Dorsten the city rights in 1251. Due to its economically favourable position on the river Lippe, the town became a member of the Hanseatic League of international trading cities and turned into the richest town in the Vest Recklinghausen.

In 1488, Franciscan monks established a monastery which continues to exist today as the world’s oldest permanently existing cloister of this order. The monks founded Gymnasium Petrinum in 1642 and in 1699 the Ursulines set up a cloister including a boarding school for girls. However, the Thirty Years’ War (1618–48) and the continuous occupation by various forces badly derogated Dorsten’s medieval wealth.

It was only during the Industrial Revolution of the nineteenth century that Dorsten returned to its former prosperity. Spinning, weaving and metal casting industries found their way into town and in 1912, the first coal mine opened. Between 1929 and 1975, surrounding villages became districts of the gradually enlarging town of Dorsten. Only a few days before the end of the Second World War, the historical old town was almost completely destroyed in an Allied air raid. However, after 1945, the town’s centre was rebuilt on its historical foundations and thus still resembles its medieval shape today.

Dorsten is widely known today for its Jewish Museum of Westphalia which was established in 1987. In 2001, the last coal mine closed and the town celebrated its 750th jubilee with a festival in the old town.

USA - California - Mary Avenue Footbridge

Mary Avenue Footbridge.

Sent by Hilbert from California, USA.

This is from Wikipedia : The Mary Avenue Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge over Interstate 280 (California) in Cupertino, California carrying bicycle and pedestrian traffic. North of I-280, Mary Avenue ends as a parking lot and drop-off area for Homestead High School. Bicyclists and pedestrians may cross I-280 using the bridge; Mary Avenue continues south of the highway.

At night the bridge is lit up and is a beautiful sight for those driving on or crossing Interstate 280.

Aruba - Palm Beach

Palm Beach - Aruba
Located on Aruba's west coast, this is the happening place. The white sandy beach and gentile waves make this Aruba's favorite vacation destination.

Sent by Madelline from Aruba. Terima kasih (thanks). This is our first ever from Aruba.

This is from Wikipedia : Aruba (/əˈruːbə/ ə-ROO-bə, Dutch pronunciation: [aˈruba]) is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km (approx.) east of Guajira Peninsula (Colombia). Together with Bonaire and Curaçao, it forms a group referred to as the ABC islands of the Leeward Antilles, the southern island chain of the Lesser Antilles.

Aruba is one of the four constituent countries that form the Kingdom of the Netherlands, together with the Netherlands, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten whose citizens share a single nationality: Dutch citizen. Aruba has no administrative subdivisions, but for census purposes is divided into 8 regions. Its capital is Oranjestad. Unlike much of the Caribbean region, Aruba has a dry climate and an arid, cactus-strewn landscape. This climate has helped tourism as visitors to the island can reliably expect warm, sunny weather. It has a land area of 179 square kilometres (69 sq mi) and is densely populated with a total of 101,484 inhabitants at the 2010 Census. It lies outside the hurricane belt. It is also home to the endemic Aruba Island Rattlesnake.

Canada - Flag of Nova Scotia

Flag of Nova Scotia.

Sent by Buffy, a postcrosser from Nova Scotia, Canada.

This is from Wikipedia : The flag of Nova Scotia, created in 1858, is a banner of the coat of arms of Nova Scotia, which were granted to the Scottish colony by Charles I, in 1625.

The flag of the modern Canadian province, a blue saltire on a white field, is a simple figure-ground reversal of the flag of Scotland (a white saltire, Saint Andrew's cross, on a blue field), charged with an inescutcheon bearing the royal arms of Scotland, a gold shield with a red lion rampant surrounded by a royal double tressure (a double border decorated with fleurs de lis). The royal arms do not appear on Scotland's flag - they were added to Nova Scotia's to distinguish the flag from the Naval Ensign of Russia which is also a blue saltire on a white field.

The similarity to the Scottish flag reflects the province's name, which is Latin for "New Scotland.' Nova Scotia was one of the few Canadian colonies to be granted its own Coat of Arms, and the flag is the only one of the Canadian provinces dating back to before confederation.

The flag is ranked #12 in the North American Vexillological Association's survey of North American state and provincial flags.