Brown bears - Canada

Did you know that Canada is home to 60% of the world’s entire bear population? I had no idea. There are three species of bears native to Canada, grizzlies, black bears and polar bears. 

These two cubs are dedinitely not polar bears, they're not black so I guess we can assume they're brown bears. 

The Postcard Factory

The North American brown bear, also nicknamed the ‘grizzly’, is frequently spotted in Canada’s North and on the West Coast. What distinguishes grizzly bear subspecies from other brown bears is geography – the brown bears of Eurasia are a different subspecies to their grizzled American counterparts. Coastal bears tend to be bigger than inland ones. 

Some of the world’s most famous and revered bears, grizzlies or brown bears can be found across Western Canada. Individuals grow up to 700 kilograms, and although they have a diet mainly consisting of berries and plants, protein-rich foods like salmon are easily accessible along the coast. Grizzlies can be identified by the protruding hump on their shoulders and their shaggy – or grizzled – coat, which is lighter at the tips than at the root. Considered an endangered animal, seeing a grizzly or North American brown bear is a once-in-a-lifetime experience not to be missed. - in: https://www.canadianaffair.com

US-7182092 & US-7198023

These official cards from USA were the 1st that I received and registered this year. 

Photo by John Seibel

US-7182092, sent by Susan.

Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge is an 829-acre (3.35 km2) state park ib Georgia. The park's name is derived from a Cherokee language word meaning "tumbling waters".

The park is home to Amicalola Falls, a 729-foot (222 m) waterfall that is the highest in Georgia. It is considered to be one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia. An 8-mile (13 km) trail that winds past Amicalola Falls and leads to Springer Mountain, famous as the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, begins in the park. Amicalola Falls State Park also offers many hiking trails, a guest lodge, restaurant, cabins, a shelter for long-distance Appalachian Trail hikers, a campground, and access to the eco-friendly Len Foote Hike Inn. -in: wikipedia

US-7198023, sent by Jane.

One of the most photographed landmarks on the Gulf coast, the St. Marks Lighthouse is the second oldest lighthouse in Florida and the oldest on the Gulf coast. It was the only lighthouse in Florida with wooden stairs. The current tower was completed in 1842. - in: https://www.fws.gov

UY-2977

An ID only with 4 digits, I don't remember when was the last time that happened. This is my 1st official card from Uruguay and only my 4th card from this country. Another neat detail is that it was fully written in Portuguese. Obrigada Natalia. 

Teatro Solís, in Montevideo, is Uruguay’s oldest and most renowned cultural theater.

 SYNA Producciones

UY-2977, sent by Natalia.

Located in Montevideo’s Plaza Independencia, the building is a perfect example of neoclassical, Old World architectural splendor. 

The theater was designed by the Italian architect Carlo Zucchi using timber and marble brought over from Europe and stored away while war raged in Uruguay. After years of delay, the theater finally opened in 1856 with a rendition of Verdi’s opera Ernani. 

The design—including the elegant façade (which has been completely restored), carved canopy and pillars, and elliptical interior—was heavily influenced by Italian architecture. The similarities can be seen in the Teatro Carlo in Genoa, the Milanese Teatro alla Scala, and most of all the Teatro Metastasio di Prato near Florence. - in: https://www.atlasobscura.com

Budj Bim Cultural Landscape - Australia

New UNESCO site in the blog!! This doesn't happen that often nowadays. This one from Australia was one of the last added to the UNESCO list. Due to this pandemic the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee, initially scheduled for 29 June - 9 July 2020 was postponed. In November the Committee has decided to hold an extended 44th session in June/July 2021 in Fuzhou, China. I'm already anxious to know the candidate sites.

On 6 July 2019 Budj Bim Cultural Landscape became the first site in Australia to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List purely for its Aboriginal cultural significance.

Photograph: Benjamin Church

The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, located in the traditional Country of the Gunditjmara people in south-eastern Australia, consists of three serial components containing one of the world’s most extensive and oldest aquaculture systems. The Budj Bim lava flows provide the basis for the complex system of channels, weirs and dams developed by the Gunditjmara in order to trap, store and harvest kooyang (short-finned eel – Anguilla australis). The highly productive aquaculture system provided an economic and social base for Gunditjmara society for six millennia. The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is the result of a creational process narrated by the Gunditjmara as a deep time story, referring to the idea that they have always lived there. From an archaeological perspective, deep time represents a period of at least 32,000 years. The ongoing dynamic relationship of Gunditjmara and their land is nowadays carried by knowledge systems retained through oral transmission and continuity of cultural practice. - in: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1577/

Card sent by Helen.

RU-8203154

Nice card but no idea where was it from. After some research and the help of google images, I came to the conclusion that this is one of Kronstadt lighthouses. 

From the beginning of  18th century Kronstadt has been a sea-port. So Kronstadt port needed lighthouses for safe navigation.  The oldest lighthouse of Russia  was constructed in Kronstadt.

RU-8203154, sent by Oleg.

Sometimes identified as the Kronstadt Lighhouse, the Kabotazhnaya Gavan Rear Range Light is a 95 foot high structure, built in the 20th century, located on the Petrovskaya Pristan mole (breakwater) in the main harbour at the Kronstadt Naval Station, Kotlin Island, Russia. Kotlin Island is Northwest of the City of St. Petersburg. 

LV-374086

Most of my Latvian cards are from Riga, it is nice to get cards from other places of the country too, especially when they're this great. 

Aglona is famous in Latvia and beyond for its Basilica of the Assumption — the most important Catholic church in the country. 

LV-374086, sent by Dzeimss (?).

The church and monastery were founded by the Dominican fathers in 1700. The original wooden church and monastery were razed in the 1760s and construction for a new church was begun in 1768 and completed by 1800 when it was consecrated.

 It attracts tens of thousands of pilgrims every year on the day of the Assumption of Mary (15 August) as well as on Pentecost. The historic icon of the Aglona Mother of God is considered miraculous and has long been an object of veneration. Its dates to the 17th century and its authorship is unknown.

In 1980 the Church celebrated its 200th anniversary and was officially given the status of a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II. In 1986 it was the site of celebration of the 800th anniversary of Christianity in Latvia. A major renovation of the basilica and expansion of the church grounds was begun in 1992 in preparation for the pope's visit. The shrine was visited by Pope John Paul II in September 1993 and over 300,000 pilgrims assembled at that time. Pope Francis visited in September 2018. - in: wikipedia

Church of Saints Simon and Helena - Belarus

Mixing pics and paintings to show a church in Minsk.

BY-519701, sent by Kate.

 This Catholic church (better known as «Red Church») was build in 1908-1910 by a noble Belarusian family upon the premature death of their two young children. 

BY-1667744, sent by Sophie.

The church with red-brick towers, spires, and pitched roofs became a symbol of inconsolable grief for those who died untimely. When the Bolsheviks came to power, the church became a cinema then a film studio. 

BY-219469, sent by Anna.

Only not long ago, in 1990, the church was given back its original status. Services here start at 7 p.m. - in:http://www.hotels-minsk.com/churches-simon-helena.htm/