National Parks of Finland

 

Date of Issue : 8 May 2013

Nuuksio National Park

Finnish Post issued a stamp from the series “National Parks”. The current issue’s subject is the Nuuksio National Park, located in the southernmost part of Finland. Established in 1994, the park spreads over an area of forests and lakes in Espoo, Kirkkonummi and Vihti.

The name of the park is derived from the Nuuksio district of Espoo. Nuuksio can be reached by public transportation from Helsinki and Espoo. The Park comprises the westernmost part of the so-called Nuuksio lake highlands. Dozens of endangered or near threatened species of animals, plants and fungi are known to live in the area; for instance the Siberian Flying Squirrel, the European Nightjar and the Woodlark.

The stamp features the marvelous landscape of the Nuuksio National Park, as well as its location on the map of Finland marked with a red dot.

The Bothnian Sea National Park

Last year on 7 May 2013 Finnish Post issued a  stamp on  “The Bothnian Sea National Park ”

 

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Suncheon Bay Garden Expo 2013

 

Hi !

Here is a magnificent stamp issued by Korea to commemorate Suncheon Bay Garden Expo 2013. The stamp is just beautiful and  a wonderful stamp for themes on environment, Tourism and flower and Birds !!

The Suncheon Bay Garden Expo 2013, authorized by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH), is being held in Suncheonman Bay from April 20, 2013.

The expo will be divided into three sections: the main expo site (564,000m²), featuring 10 country gardens and 60 themed gardens; the International Wetland Center (100,500m²), featuring an animal/plant exhibition hall, a theater, an ecology learning hall, and a wetland experience hall; and an arboretum (253,000m²). Connecting the main expo site and the wetland center will be a bridge, constructed using freight containers decorated with 160,000 artworks created by children from all over the world.

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Organized under the theme ‘Garden of the Earth,’ the Suncheon Bay Garden Expo 2013 is a global festival is being held for six months from April 20 to October 20, 2013 in Suncheon City of the Namdo region. Suncheonman (Suncheon Bay) is a coastal wetland registered on the Ramsar Convention. Korean photographers often select Suncheonman Bay as one of the best spots to watch sunsets in Korea.

Suncheon Bay

A place with never-ending field of reeds with hooded cranes roaming about, Suncheon Bay comprises one of the world’s top 5 coastal wetlands and is a rich ecological repository where 235 species of migratory birds and 120 species of plants inhabit.

The beautiful natural setting of Suncheon Bay will be the host site of “Suncheon Bay Garden Expo 2013″. Suncheon Bay Garden Expo 2013 will be held under the theme of “Suncheon Bay, the Garden of the Earth”, for 6 months from April 20, 2013 to October 20 around the Suncheon Bay.

For this Expo, 83 gardens will be created: “World Garden Zone” where visitors can appreciate various and unique garden cultures of various countries; 70 or so of “Participation Garden Zone” created by world famous garden designers and installation artists; “Oriental Herbs Experience Center”; “Kids’ Garden”; “International Wetland Zone”; and an “Arboretum Zone” where visitors can appreciate a Korean traditional garden and a Southern Forest Path. What makes the Expo more exciting is  the “Suncheon Lake Garden” created by the world-renowned gardener Charles Jencks; “The Dream Bridge”, a recycled container, designed by Kang Ik-jung, an installation artist, that displays 140,000 pictures drawn by children around the world about their future dreams; and PRT (Personal Rapid Transit), transportation that connects the Expo site with Suncheon Bay.

In hoping for the success of the Suncheon Bay Garden Expo 2013 which pursues environment-friendly values as shown by the recycling of the discarded trees, stones and containers, as well as the reed fences, compost manure made by worms, etc.,

Korean post has issued a postage stamp featuring a view of Suncheon Bay.

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New Stamps from Poland

 

PIOTR KWIT - NATURE PAINTER

Date of Issue : 10 October 2012

Polish Post will issue two new stamps on 27 September and 10th October 2012. The first stamp shown above features Birds and the other one will be issued to commemorate death anniversary of  famous Polish preacher and writer, Piotr Skarga.

 

YEAR OF PIOTR SKARGA

Date of Issue: 27 September 2012

Piotr Skarga (real name Piotr Powęski; 1536–1612) Born: February 2, 1536, Grójec Died: September 27, 1612, Kraków was a Polish Jesuit, preacher, hagiographer, polemicist, and leading figure of the Counter-reformation in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. He was called the "Polish Bossuet" due to his oratorical abilities.

 

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My Recent Cover from Germany..

 

Nature Park- Dromling

Thanks to Mr Wollfgang Beyer of Germany !

Nature Park- Dromling

The Drömling is a sparsely populated depression on the border of Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt in Germany with an area of about 340 square kilometres (130 sq mi). The larger part belonging to Saxony-Anhalt in the east has been a nature park since 1990. The former swampland was transformed by drainaged from a natural into a cultural landscape in the 18th century under the direction of Frederick the Great of Prussia . Today the depression, with its waterways, the Mittelland Canal and the rivers Aller and Ohre is a refuge for rare or endangered species of animal and plant. Most of the area is now made up of nature reserves and protected areas.

Club News

National Stamp and Coin Fair at Kolkata from 5-7 October 2012

 

 

 

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Stamps on ‘WORLD HERITAGE’

 

Natural System of Wrangel Island Reserve (RUSSIA)

‘Natural System of Wrangel Island Reserve’ was included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO in 2004. It is the most northern located World Heritage Site. Wrangel Island (7608 sq. km.) is located about 500 km north of the Arctic Circle, at the intersection of Western and Eastern hemispheres, it is separated from the Russian mainland by the Strait of Long.

Russia 2012

A fragment of the landscape of Wrangel Island is beautifully depicted on the S/S, printed partially offset and partially lacquer paint stencil technique, issued on 27^th February 2012.

The site includes the mountainous Wrangel Island, Herald Island (11 sq. km.), located 70 km east, and surrounding waters. Wrangel was not glaciated during the Quaternary Ice Age, resulting in exceptionally high levels of biodiversity for this region. The island boasts the world’s largest population of Pacific walrus and the highest density of ancestral polar bear dens. It is a major feeding ground for the grey whale migrating from Mexico and the northernmost nesting ground for 100 migratory bird species, many endangered. Currently, 417 species and subspecies of vascular plants have been identified on the island, double that of any other Arctic tundra territory of comparable size and more than any other Arctic island. Some species are derivative of widespread continental forms, others are the result of recent hybridization, and 23 are endemic.

-  Pradeep Kumar Mallick, Patna

email : mallikphila@gmail.com

 

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My recent Covers…

 

From  Neil Patel, CA – USA

 Grand Teton National Park is a United States National Park in northwestern Wyoming. Approximately 310,000 acres (130,000 ha) in size, the park includes the major peaks of the 40-mile (64 km) long Teton Range as well as most of the northern sections of the valley known as Jackson Hole. Only 10 miles (16 km) south of Yellowstone National Park, the two parks are connected by the National Park Service managed John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. These three protected areas in conjunction with surrounding National Forests constitute the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which at almost 18,000,000 acres (7,300,000 ha), is one of the largest intact mid-latitude temperate ecosystems in the world. Read More…

Thanks Neil for this beautiful Cover with nice  golden cancellation http://usapostman.blogspot.in/

From Charlie Jensen – Florida (USA)

Thanks Mr Jensen for the cover with nice Souvenir sheet of Civil War 1861.

 

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My recent Covers…

 

Germany

National Park Jasmund

National park Jasmund (costal forest, northeast Germany) is listed in World Heritage List of UNESCO . Yearday UNESCO Worlheritagetitle 'Old Beech forest' National Park Jasmund . The forest is featured on the stamp too.

This pictorial cancellation is for one-year-celebration of UNESCO declaration for this forest.

Details – Courtesy : Shrikant Parikh

Thanks to Wolfgang Beyer, Germany

Covers from Jan Dzuirka of Germany

 

ESPERANTO Covers

 

 

Thanks Jan for the nice covers !!

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Europa 2012 – Visit Gibraltar

 

     

Date of Issue – 15 June 2012

Hi !

Here is a beautiful set for EUROPA 2012,  being  issued today by Gibraltar Post . The set completely conveys the message of  this year’s Europa Theme, “ Visit ”….It’s a magnificent set and sure to liked by those who love Travel & Tourism and of course a wonderful set for my collection ….

This is all for Today..Till Next Post…Have A Great Time !!

     

The Europa 2012 stamp issue ‘Visit Gibraltar’ showcases the iconic, world famous Rock of Gibraltar. Situated at the meeting place of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea the majestic limestone Rock of Gibraltar was known in ancient times as one of the ‘Pillars of Hercules’ standing majestically across the Strait of Gibraltar alongside the southern pillar that rises in the continent of Africa.

The 10p and 44p stamps depict magnificent aerial views of the rock, city area and harbour where the most famous cruise liners dock throughout the year. The 42p stamp features the Moorish Castle’s Tower of Homage medieval fortification located in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve believed to have been built in AD 711.

 

    

The 54p stamp features the Trinity lighthouse at Europa Point, the most southern location of Gibraltar, looking out towards the continent of Africa. The 51p stamp features the impressive St. Michael’s Cave also located in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. Its numerous stalactites and stalagmites continue to be formed by an accumulation of traces of dissolved rock deposited by water dripping from the ground above. The 66p stamp features Eliott’s Column located at the beautiful Alameda Botanical Gardens.

 

FDC

George Augustus Eliott, 1st Baron Heathfield has his place sealed in Gibraltar history for his successful defence of the Gibraltar garrison and fortress during the Great Siege of Gibraltar, which lasted between 1779 and 1783 during the American War of Independence.

From our Readers….

Sanjiv Jain from Dehradun shares here two private covers prepared by him on “Save Sparrow…”

 

‘Save sparrows for nature’s balance’

TNN Mar 21, 2012, 07.19AM IST

At a time when the population of sparrows is fast declining due to loss of their habitats, city-based bird lovers are striving hard to save them from extinction. On the occasion of World Sparrow Day on March 20, the bird watchers in the city urged people to contribute their bit in saving the little bird from getting extinct.

Gita Randhawa, a bird lover, was excited to see a full flock of sparrows at Ganga Barrage on the eve of World Sparrows Day. "Lot of people feed sparrows at Ganga Barrage which is very amazing because this shows that the awareness has increased among them towards the little bird. I am hopeful that the number of sparrows would increase if this trend continues," said Gita while talking to TOI. Captain Praveen Chopra, another bird lover, was of the view that in old houses, sparrows used to find some space to build their nests, but in the new pattern of architecture, it is not possible. This has reduced their numbers drastically.

Chopra also said that people can contribute their bit in saving this tiny, beautiful creature so that its chirpy voice could be heard in the verandas and at perches. Gita said, "People should keep bowls of water on the terrace and windows to save sparrows from dying due to thirst during peak summer season. Also people should sprinkle bajra in an open veranda to attract sparrows. These efforts can save this bird from getting extinct." It is worth mentioning here that increased use of pesticides in the fields, change in the pattern of buildings being made and gardens missing from the houses have become the main factors why the number of sparrows has declined sharply in the past few years.
Also, the release of radiation from the mobile and the TV towers has also been a cause of death of sparrows. Meanwhile, on the occasion of World Sparrow Day, the authorities of Kanpur zoo had put up a photo exhibition on sparrows and other birds.
The purpose of the exhibition was to inform visitors about sparrows and their ecological importance. Talking to TOI, K Praveen Rao, director, Kanpur zoo, expressed concern over the declining number of the little bird. Rao said there is a dire need to save sparrows from getting extinct. He said that if sparrows are not saved, the ecological balance would get disturbed as these birds feed on seeds and small insects and maintain the nature's balance. Rao also highlighted that the release of carbon monoxide from automobiles has also become a reason for the death of birds in large numbers. This needs to be curbed to save them, said Rao further.

- The Time  Of   India -   21st march  2012

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My Recent Covers…

 

From Latvia

Moricsala Reserve - The oldest nature reserve in Latvia

"The oldest nature reserve in Latvia – the Moricsala Reserve – is almost closed to visitors and can be visited only with a special permit issued by Slītere National Park administration. The reserve is located in Kurzeme, on the lake of Usma, and occupies a small part of the lake gulfs and two islands – Moricsala (the island gained its name from the son of the Sachsen Prince-elector August, later French Marshal Moriz, who was hiding on the island with a small military unit of Russian troops in 1727) and the Big Alder Isle (Lielā Alkšņu sala). The area of the reserve is 802 ha and has been recognised as a Natura 2000 territory. There is exceedingly rich flora and fauna on Moricsala:  409 species of vascular plants, 157 species of moss, 338 species of mushrooms, 82 species of lichens, more than 40 species of birds and 320 species of butterflies. More than 100 species are considered rare and endangered, not only in Latvia, but also in many other European countries. Moricsala is notable for the fact that, for the last couple 100 years, there have been no human economic activities, thus giving the island a unique and rarely seen wild woodland landscape. "

 

"100 years Moricsala Reserve (the island Moritz),"   On the envelope the words: on a little sheet - 100 years of conservation, and under it - to observe, learn, take care! On the stamp: Reserve Moricsala - 100.

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Card issued by   Ministry of Conservation &  Environment, Latvia

Thanks to E.N. Limanski – Riga , Latvia 

Cover from Germany

Wolfgang Beyer - Germany

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Scenic Beauty : Cocos (Keeling) Islands …

 

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

The remote Cocos (Keeling) Islands are located 2,770 kilometres north-west of Perth in the Indian Ocean and comprise two tropical coral atolls. The southern atoll consists of 26 islands and the uninhabited northern atoll, North Keeling Island, lies 24 kilometres away.

Of approximately 570 people living on the southern atoll, 86 per cent are Cocos Malays, descended from Javanese labourers originally brought to the islands in the 19th century to farm coconuts. The remaining population is European, mainly employed by the Australian government.

The romance and the beauty of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are captured in its dramatic sunrises and sunsets, although ironically, colour in the sky is influenced primarily by impurities like dust or smoke in the air.

Each of the stamps in this issue captures the colour and vibrancy of nature's work as it presents the beginning and the end of the day.

Club News

Glimpses :  Stamp of the Past exhibition at Red Fort

 

 

 

 

 

Venue : Red Fort ( 18 May – 17 July 2012)

:  : Timir Shah – Ajay Mittal from New Delhi

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