Lake Constance - Germany

 Lake Constance in southern Germany is one of the largest lakes in Central Europe. Crossing the borders of three countries, it boasts clear waters, charming lakeside towns and historic landmarks.

As a holiday area, the Lake Constance region offers a unique blend of natural beauty, historic charm and cultural experiences.
The major part of the Lake Constance shoreline is in Germany, but there are sections of the lake in Austria and Switzerland. It is around 63 kilometres long and 14 kilometres wide.

 

© Schöning GmbH & Co. KG

 

 DE-9119260, sent by Anne.

The lake is divided into two sections. Upper Lake Constance (Obersee) is the eastern end of the lake and is the area most people would think of as 'Lake Constance'. Lower Lake Constance (Untersee) is the part to the west of Konstanz before the river Rhine flows out of the lake.
Incidentally, Lake Constance is known as the Bodensee in German. If you are a little confused about the names Constance and Konstanz, these probably come from one of the later Roman Emperors who controlled this region. - in: https://www.germansights.com

 

DE-16659809, sent by Marion.

View of the lake seen from Mainau castle.

 

© Schöning GmbH & Co. KG

DE-15386997, sent by Kerstin.

There are plenty of small towns and villages along the German shoreline of the lake, such us Lindau; Friedrichshafen; Konstanz and Überlingen.

Biscarrosse - France

Every now and then I get cards from non-postcrosser friends. My friend Natália went to France two weeks ago to spend a few days with her cousin in Biscarrosse.

 

Biscarrosse is home to some of the most beautiful sites in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Bordered on one side by the ocean and on the other by two large lakes, this beautiful town enjoys an exceptional location offering easy access to beaches and activities.

 

Éditions d'Art

Dunes, pine forests, sandy beaches, crystal-clear lakes... Biscarrosse has it all. Biscarrosse is a lively town all year round, where you can discover the Landes way of life. There's plenty to do in the water, from cruising on Lac Cazaux-Sanguinet to lounging on Plage du Vivier and surfing the waves of the Atlantic Ocean...
The lakes in Biscarrosse are sublime. One of the must-sees is the Lac de Cazaux-Sanguinet. Surrounded by pine trees, this superb 5,600-hectare lake offers a change of scenery for nature walks.
The Lac de Biscarrosse-Parentis is also full of surprises, with its 3,400 hectares. It's the perfect place to take full advantage of all the water activities...
Opinions are unanimous: the beaches of Biscarrosse are among the most beautiful in the Landes. - in:https://www.slow-village.com

CA-1679259

 Medicine Hat is a very curious name for a city. Several legends tell how this city in Alberta got it's name. 

* The Famine Legend: A brave journeyed to the South Saskatchewan River to save his starving people. A river serpent demanded the sacrifice of his wife in exchange for a "holy bonnet" that would give him the power to hunt and survive.

* The Battle Legend: During a conflict between the Blackfoot and Cree tribes, a medicine man lost his headdress in the river, creating an omen that gave the region its name.

 

 

Photo: Len Grant

CA-1679259, sent by Curt.

Once again, Canadian mail services ruined the stamps. Why??!

With its tall spires, St. Patrick's Church has long been a Medicine Hat landmark. Erected between 1912 and 1914 and designed by American architect Manley N. Cutter, it is undoubtedly one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival church architecture in western Canada.

Lassen Volcanic N. P. - USA

I didn’t know about this park until a month ago. The United States has 63 designated national parks, and this is one of the few I've never heard of. It is great to learn about new places. 

US-12167856, sent by Mary Beth.

Nestled in the peaceful forests and wilderness of Northern California is Lassen Volcanic National Park. Lassen Peak is the largest plug dome volcano in the world and the southernmost volcano in the Cascade Range.

 

by Aaron Powers

US-12403353, sent by Jessica.
Established in 1916, Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to meadows freckled with wildflowers, clear mountain lakes and numerous volcanoes. A closer look at the landscape, however, reveals the hissing fumaroles and boiling mud pots that still shape and change the land, evidence of Lassen's fiery volcanic past. - in: https://www.nationalparks.org

Heceta Head Lighthouse - USA

Perched atop 1,000-foot-high Heceta Head, the lighthouse is one of the most photographed on the coast. The light atop the 56-foot tower was first illuminated in 1894. Its automated beacon, seen 21 miles from land, is rated as the strongest light on the Oregon coast.

 

Pub. by Smith-Western Inc

US-12403357, sent by Jeanette.

A view from Heceta Head Lighthouse looking south towards Sea Lion Caves.

A half-mile trail to the lighthouse begins in the parking area and passes the lightkeeper’s house on its way up to the lighthouse and viewpoint.
Built in 1893, the assistant lightkeeper's house is one of the last remaining on the Pacific Coast. Visitors can book a room with ocean views and imagine the life of a lightkeeper.

 

Printed by Lantern Press - Seattle WA

US-8728888, sent by Simon.
The lighthouse viewpoint is among the best on the coast for spotting whales during the winter and spring migration, as well as sea lions and many species of birds. Common murres lay their eggs on the rocks below the viewpoint railing. The park and surrounding ocean are part of Oregon’s largest marine reserve, the Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve. - in: https://stateparks.oregon.gov

Grose River Valley - Australia

 There are a number of hiking trails through the Grose River Valley and I'm sure the views are amazing. Rainey said it is a peaceful place to enjoy nature and breathtaking views.

 

Photograph: Henry Gold

The Grose Valley, officially Grose Gorge is a rugged valley in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. It has been formed by the Grose River, the headwaters of which are in the Mount Victoria area. 

The majority of the valley falls within the Blue Mountains National Park. - in: wikipedia

Chersonesus - Ukraine

In 2013 Ukraine had two sites added to the UNESCO WHS list, the Wooden Tserkvas of Carpathian region and Ancient City of Tauric Chersonese and its Chora, where these cards are from.

The ancient city is located on the shore of the Black Sea at the outskirts of Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula of Ukraine.

 

Photo: Pavel Filatov

RU-10752922, sent by Elizaveta.

The site features the remains of a city founded by Dorian Greeks in the 5th century BC on the northern shores of the Black Sea. It encompasses six component sites with urban remains and agricultural lands divided into several hundreds of chora, rectangular plots of equal size. The plots supported vineyards whose production was exported by the city which thrived until the 15th century.

 The site features several public building complexes and residential neighbourhoods, as well as early Christian monuments alongside remains from Stone and Bronze Age settlements; Roman and medieval tower fortifications and water supply systems; and exceptionally well-preserved examples of vineyard planting and dividing walls. 

 

 UA-1774059, sent by Oksana.

In the 3rd century AD, the site was known as the most productive wine centre of the Black Sea and remained a hub of exchange between the Greek, Roman and Byzantine Empires and populations north of the Black Sea. It is an outstanding example of democratic land organization linked to an ancient polis, reflecting the city’s social organization. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1411

RU-5402673, sent by Vera. 

The Saint Vladimir Cathedral is a Neo-Byzantine Russian Orthodox cathedral on the site of Chersonesos Taurica. It commemorates the presumed place of St. Vladimir's baptism.

The author of the project of St. Vladimir Cathedral in Chersonese was academician David Grimm. According to his plan, the Cathedral had to be built in Byzantine style. The construction took 15 years and was finished in 1874-1876.

During World War II the cathedral was destroyed. The work on its restoration began in the late 1990s, even though it was made more active only in 2000. - in: wikipedia