Flags of the World | Aruba

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Aruba is an island and a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the southern Caribbean Sea. 

Aruba's national flag was adopted on March 18, 1976. From 1959 - 1986 the flag of the Netherlands Antilles was also in use. But in 1986 Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles.

Village scene | Nigeria

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The back of the card just reads "Village scene. Northern Nigeria". Nigeria, with over 190 million inhabitants, is a country of great diversity. It is the 13th oil producing country in the world. Many high rise building in the capital Abuja. But in more rural areas in the north people have a more traditional way of live.

Manú National Park | Peru

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Manú National Park is a national park and biosphere reserve in Peru. It protects diverse ecosystems such as lowland rainforests, cloud forests and Andean grasslands. Tambopata National Reserve is located in the same region.

Manú National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Central Suriname Nature Reserve | Suriname

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Did you know that more than 90% of Suriname is covered by rainforest? No other country in the world has such a high percentage.

Central Suriname Nature Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Central Suriname Nature Reserve comprises 1.6 million ha of primary tropical forest of west-central Suriname.

Flags of the World | Falkland Islands

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The current flag of the Falkland Islands was adopted on 25 January 1999.

The Falkland Islands have been claimed and occupied by several nations throughout its history, who generally used their national flags on the islands. It wasn't until 1876 that the islands were given a flag of their own.

Parliament House of South Australia

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Parliament House in the Adelaide city centre, is the seat of the Parliament of South Australia.
Look at this great minisheet!

thx Steve!

Banks of the Seine, Paris | France

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The city of Paris is built along a bend in the River Seine, between the confluence of the Marne and the Oise Rivers. From the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower, from the Place de la Concorde to the Grand and Petit Palais, the evolution of Paris and its history can be seen from the River Seine.

Paris, Banks of the Seine is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras

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Tegucigalpa ("hills of silver") is the capital and largest city of Honduras. The city is set in a central valley surrounded by mountains. It is said to be one of the most dangerous cities in central america.

Changu Narayan Temple | Nepal

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The ancient Hindu temple of Changu Narayan is located in Bhaktapur District in Nepal. It is part of UNESCO World Heritage site Kathmandu Valley.

The cultural heritage of the Kathmandu Valley is illustrated by seven groups of monuments and buildings which display the full range of historic and artistic achievements for which the Kathmandu Valley is world famous.

The seven groups of monuments and buildings include:
- Durbar Squares of Hanuman Dhoka (Kathmandu), Patan and Bhaktapur
- the Buddhist stupas of Swayambhu and Bauddhanath
- and the Hindu temples of Pashupati and Changu Narayan

Thien Mu Pagoda | Viet Nam

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The Pagoda of the Celestial Lady (Thien Mu Pagoda) is a historic temple in the city of Huế in Vietnam. Its iconic seven-story pagoda is regarded as the unofficial symbol of the city.

The pagoda is one of the 14 component parts of UNESCO World Heritage site Complex of Hué Monuments.

Archeological site of Douga | Tunisia

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Dougga or Thugga was a Berber and Roman settlement near present-day Téboursouk in northern Tunisia. The archaeological site covers an area of approximately 75 ha. These ruins of a complete city with all its components are a testimony to more than 17 centuries of history.

Dougga / Thugga is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Flags of the World | Germany

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The flag of Germany was first adopted as the national flag of modern Germany in 1919, during the short-lived Weimar Republic, until 1933.

Arbore Church | Romania

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The Arbore Church is a Romanian Orthodox monastery church in Arbore Commune, Suceava County, Romania. Built in 1502 by Luca Arbore, and dedicated to the Beheading of St. John the Baptist.

Together with seven other churches they comprise UNESCO World Heritage site Churches of Moldavia:

- Church of the Beheading of St John the Baptist of Arbore
- Church of the Assumption of the Virgin of the former Monastery of Humor
- Church of the Annunciation of the Monastery of Moldovita
- Church of the Holy Rood of Patrauti
- Church of St Nicholas and the Catholicon of the Monastery of Probota
- Church of St George of Suceava
- Church of St George of the former Voronet Monastery
- Church of the Resurrection of Suceviţa Monastery

Armenian Cathedral in Lviv | Ukraine

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The Armenian Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary in Lviv, Ukraine is located in the city's Old Town. The origins of this church dates back to the 14th century.

Here you see an interior view of this church.

South Bank - Brisbane | Australia

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Brisbane is the capital of and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland.

South Bank is Brisbane’s premier lifestyle and cultural destination, located on the southern banks of the Brisbane River. Streets Beach is a South Bank icon. It is Australia’s only inner-city, man-made beach.

thx Steve!

Old Town of Corfu | Greece

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The origins of Corfu date back to the 8th century BC. But what we see today is approximately 500 years old, built mostly by the Venetians, including the two fortresses. The old city of Corfu was one of the most strongly fortified cities of Greece, which despite the persistence of the Ottomans to conquer it, they never succeed.

Old Town of Corfu is a Unesco World Heritage site.

ay-oo-ah Island | Kingdom of Tonga

 

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Located in the South Pacific, The Kingdom of Tonga is made up of 176 islands, with 4 main island groups. Eua (pronounced ay-oo-ah) is a smaller but still major island in the Kingdom of Tonga.

Eua is known in Tonga as an eco-travelers paradise. You can go whale watching or swimming with whales, hiking , horseback riding or scuba diving.

Fanjingshan | China

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The Fanjingshan is the highest peak of the Wuling Mountains in southwestern China, at an elevation of 2,570 m. Fanjingshan is considered a sacred mountain of Chinese Buddhism.

The isolated Wuling Mountain Range is known as “the gene database of China” due to its rich biodiversity.

Fanjingshan is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Flags of the World | Bulgaria

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The flag of Bulgaria was first adopted after the 1877–1878 Russo-Turkish War, when Bulgaria gained independence. The national flag at times was charged with the state emblem, especially during the communist era. The current flag was re-established in 1991.

The At-Turaif District | Saudi Arabia

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The At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah was the first capital of the Saudi Dynasty, in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula, north-west of Riyadh.

At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Estrada São Vicente | Guinea-Bissau

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Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa, bordered by Senegal and Guinea, with an estimated population of 1,850,000. The capital and largest city is Bissau, founded in 1687 by Portugal as a fortified port and trading center. Guinea-Bissau is independent from Portugal since 1974.

What better way to start the year than with a new country!

Montego Bay | Jamaica

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Montego Bay, Jamaica, is a popular tourist destination featuring duty-free shopping, a cruise line terminal and several beaches and resorts. Montego Bay is very important to Jamaica's economy. Most of the country's visitors arrive and depart from Montego Bay's Airport or Port.

Thank you Steve for arranging this card!

Beemster Polder | Netherlands

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The Beemster Polder, dating from the early 17th century, is is an exceptional example of reclaimed land in the Netherlands. It has preserved intact its well-ordered landscape of fields, roads, canals, dykes and settlements, laid out in accordance with classical and Renaissance planning principles.

Droogmakerij de Beemster (Beemster Polder) is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Fihavanana | Madagascar

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When googeling the word Fihavanana I was expected it to be the name of a town or city in Madagascar.

But Fihavanana is a Malagasy (language of Madagascar) word encompassing the Malagasy concept of kinship, friendship, goodwill between beings, both physical and spiritual. The literal translation is difficult to capture. It is a system of rules and norms called that guides people’s behaviour.

Flags of the World | Greenland

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Prior to 1983 Greenland was a Danish colony since 1814. The flag during this time was the red field with white cross Danish flag.

The modern flag of independent Greenland designed by Thue Christiansen was adopted after its independence in 1985. The flag of Greenland is the only Nordic country that doesn’t feature a Nordic cross.