Crater Lake National Park - USA

The 3 weeks have been very poor when it comes to received mail but in the last days of this week I finally felt again the joy of getting a bunch of cards in my mailbox. 

The 1st of these Crater Lake N. P. was one of the cards that I registed yesterday. 

 atwork & design © 2017 Robert B. Decker

US-4765147. sent Jason.

On the back of the card: Established in 1902, Crater lake inspires awe. Native Americans watched it form 7700 years ago, when a violent eruption triggered the collapse of a towering volcano. Scientists marvel at its purity; fed by rain and snow, it's the deepest lake in th United States and perhaps the most pristine on earth. 

Artists, photographers and sightseers stand in wonder at its blue waters and stunning setting. 

 Photo by Craig Tuttle

US-1671354, sent by Nancy.

Crater Lake National Park is a United States National Park located in southern Oregon. Crater Lake National Park is the fifth oldest national park in the United States and the only one in the state of Oregon. The park encompasses the caldera of Crater Lake, a remnant of a destroyed volcano, Mount Mazama, and the surrounding hills and forests.

The lake is 1,943 feet (592 m) deep at its deepest point, which makes it the deepest lake in the United States, the second deepest in North America and the ninth deepest in the world

The caldera rim ranges in elevation from 7,000 to 8,000 feet (2,100 to 2,400 m). 

Crater Lake has no streams flowing into or out of it. All water that enters the lake is eventually lost from evaporation or subsurface seepage. The lake's water commonly has a striking blue hue, and the lake is re-filled entirely from direct precipitation in the form of snow and rain. - in: wikipedia

DE-6369546

The ID of this card is german but the card is from USA. Unalaska is the largest city of the Aleutian Islands, a chain of 14 large volcanic islands and 55 smaller ones belonging to both the United States and Russia. The city of Unalaska, covers part of the Unalaska island, in the US state of Alaska.

DE-6369546, sent by Rüdiger.

During World War II the remote Aleutian Islands, home to the Unangax̂ (Aleut) people for over 8,000 years, became a fiercely contested battleground in the Pacific. This thousand-mile-long archipelago saw invasion by Japanese forces, the occupation of two islands; a mass relocation of Unangax̂ civilians; a 15-month air war; and one of the deadliest battles in the Pacific Theater. - in: https://www.nps.gov/aleu/index.htm

A memorial overlooking downtown Unalaska is dedicated to the Unangax who were forcibly evacuated during WWII and the Aleutian villages that were never resettled. - in: http://www.alaskapublic.org/2017/06/02/75th-anniversary-of-aleut-evacuation/

US-4680108

The Cloud Gate Sculpture, also known as the "bean," is one of the highlights of Millennium Park in Chicago. 

Photo: Jeff Lewis

US-4680108, sent by Donna.

Designed by the artist Anish Kapoor, the Chicago the Bean sculpture is made of 168 highly polished stainless steel plates - giving the appearance of liquid mercury. Up close, the highly reflective nature of the sculpture captures the beautiful skyline of Chicago. The Cloud Gate Sculpture has thus become a tourist hot spot and is the perfect place to take your vacation snapshots. - in: http://www.chicagotraveler.com/cloud-gate-chicago

Jackson Square, New Orleans - USA

These cards are not as old as the previous ones. The 1st card arrived not so long ago, I don't remember who sent it though, sorry, and the 2nd was sent by my penpal Nova. 

Photo by Tommie Reardon

Historic Jackson Square, originally known in the 18th century as "Place d'Armes," and later renamed in honor of the Battle of New Orleans hero Andrew Jackson, is a timeless attraction in the heart of the French Quarter of New Orleans.

This famous landmark facing the Mississippi River is surrounded by historic buildings, including the St. Louis Cathedral, the Presbytere and Cabildo (Louisiana State Museums), not to mention the Lower and Upper Pontalba Apartments, the oldest apartment buildings in the United States. 

Jackson Square is a favorite site for visitors and locals. The artists, restaurants, museums, merchants and the square itself make Jackson Square one of the French Quarter's most popular destinations.: in: http://www.experienceneworleans.com/jackson-square.html

Facing Jackson Square and flanked by the historic Cabildo on one side and the equally historic Presbytere on the other, St. Louis Cathedral is among the tallest and most imposing structures in the French Quarter. And one of the most recognizable. It has been seen in hundreds of movies, TV shows and other visual presentations and it is a local and international architectural icon.

As the mother church of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, St. Louis Cathedral has a long and interesting history. It is the oldest continuously active Roman Catholic Cathedral in the United States, originally built in 1727 and dedicated to King Louis IX of France, “The Crusading King” who was later canonized by the Church. The original St. Louis Cathedral burned during the great fire of 1794 and was rebuilt. The present structure was completed in the 1850s.

In September 1987 the cathedral witnessed the historic visit of Pope John Paul II and the plaza directly in front of the church was renamed in the pope’s honor. Shortly afterward the status of the Cathedral was upgraded to a Basilica. - in: http://www.neworleansonline.com/directory/location.php?locationID=1288

Salt Lake Temple - USA

Two officials with Salt Lake temple, in Salt Lake City, Utah, that I received in 2011!!

US-1125639, sent by Linda.

"The Salt Lake Temple is a worldwide icon of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, popularly known as the Mormon Church. 

US-1196175, sent by Mark "youngini".

The massive granite, six-spire edifice was constructed in a neo-gothic style over the course of an astounding 40-year period between 1853 and 1893; the pioneers who settled the valley sacrificed both time and material goods to the building of the temple, which stands as a testament to their faith and devotion." - in: http://www.utah.com/mormon/salt_lake_temple.htm

US-4230848

An official from USA with the famous Liberty Bell. 

Photo: David Traub

US-4230848, sent by Sarah.

In 1751, the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly—part of the state’s colonial government—paid around 100 pounds for a large bell to hang in its new State House (later known as Independence Hall). Cast at London’s Whitechapel Bell Foundry, the bell arrived in Philadelphia in August 1752.

On July 8, 1776, the bell was rung to celebrate the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. After the British invasion of Philadelphia, the bell was hidden in a church until it could be safely returned to the State House. A popular icon of the new nation and its independence, it wasn’t called the “Liberty Bell” until the 1830s, when an abolitionist group adopted it as a symbol of their own cause.

After being moved to a pavilion near Independence Hall in 1976 (the bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence), in 2003 the Liberty Bell was relocated to Liberty Bell Center in Independence National Historic Park, where millions of visitors view its famous crack each year. - in: http://www.history.com/news/ask-history/why-is-the-liberty-bell-cracked

Mauna Kea - Hawaii

I always wanted to have a postcard with a snowy view of any of the Hawaii's vulcanoes and I finally got one, thanks to Trisha. 

Photo: Peter French

Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano on the island of Hawaii. Standing 4,207 m (13,802 ft) above sea level, its peak is the highest point in the state of Hawaii. Much of the mountain is under water; when measured from its oceanic base, Mauna Kea is over 10,000 m (33,000 ft) tall. Mauna Kea is about a million years old, and has thus passed the most active shield stage of life hundreds of thousands of years ago.

With its high elevation, dry environment, and stable airflow, Mauna Kea's summit is one of the best sites in the world for astronomical observation. Since the creation of an access road in 1964, thirteen telescopes funded by eleven countries have been constructed at the summit. The Mauna Kea Observatories are used for scientific research across the electromagnetic spectrum from visible light to radio, and comprise the largest such facility in the world. - in: wikipedia