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Showing posts from July, 2010

#80 Great Britain

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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II . The Queen is Head of State of the UK and 15 other Commonwealth realms. The elder daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, she was born in 1926 and became Queen at the age of 25, and has reigned through more than five decades of enormous social change and development. The Queen is married to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and has four children and eight grandchildren. ( source ) Thank you David!

Private Swap - Jamaica

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The Jamaica Flag was first flown on August 6, 1962, Jamaica’s Independence Day. The colors of the flag are gold, black and green. The gold represents their sunlight and mineral wealth, the black stands for hardships past and those to come and the green symbolizes agricultural wealth and hope. Coming together to send forth the message: “Hardships there are, but the land is green and the sun shines”. (from the card) Thank you Moon!

Private Swap – Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country in South-Eastern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. The country is home to three ethnic groups or so-called "constituent peoples", a term unique for Bosnia-Herzegovina. These are: Bosniaks, the largest population group of three, with Bosnian Serbs in second and Bosnian Croats in third. Bosnia and Herzegovina gained its independence during the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s. According to an estimation of the World Tourism Organization, Bosnia and Herzegovina will have the third highest tourism growth rate in the world between 1995 and 2020. Tourism in Sarajevo is chiefly focused on historical, religious, and cultural aspects. Bosnia has also become an increasingly popular skiing and Ecotourism destination. More recently Sarajevo was nominated one of Top 10 cities to visit in 2010 in the 2010 edition of Lonely Planet's BEST IN TRAVEL. Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the last undiscovered regions of the southern area of the Alps, with vas

Private Swap - Maryland

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Maryland is an American State located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States. Maryland is comparable in overall area with the European country of Belgium. It was the seventh state to ratify the United States Constitution, and three nicknames for it, the Old Line State , the Free State , and the Chesapeake Bay State are occasionally used. Maryland is a major center for life sciences research and development. With more than 350 biotechnology companies located there, Maryland is the third-largest nexus in this field in the United States. ( source ) Bird: Baltimore Oriole                        Flower: Black Eyed Susan Tree: White Oak                                Fish: Rockfish Thank you Katie!

Private Swap - Florida

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The state of Florida is located in the southeastern region of the United States. In 1845 it was the 27th state admitted to the United States. Much of the land mass of the state is a large peninsula with the Gulf of Mexico to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. With an area of 170,306 km 2 , it is ranked 22nd in size among the 50 U.S. states. Florida has the most coastline in the Contiguous United States encompassing approximately 1,200 miles. The state has four large urban areas, a number of smaller industrial cities, and many small towns. Florida is nicknamed the "Sunshine State" because of its generally warm climate—subtropical in the northern and central regions of the state, with a true tropical climate in the southern portion.   With population 18,537,969 in 2009, Florida is ranking as the fourth most populous state in the U.S. Tallahassee is the state capital, Jacksonville is the largest city, and the Miami metropolitan area is the largest metropolitan

Private Swap - Tennessee

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Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,214,888 and covers 109,220 km 2 . Tennessee's capital and second largest city is Nashville. It was admitted to the Union as the 16th state on June 1, 1796. Tennessee has seen some of the nation's worst racial strife, from the formation of the Ku Klux Klan in Pulaski in 1866 to the assassination of Martin Luther King in Memphis in 1968. In the early 1940s, Oak Ridge, Tennessee was established to house the Manhattan Project's uranium enrichment facilities, helping to build the world's first atomic bomb. Beale Street in Memphis is considered by many to be the birthplace of the blues. Memphis was home to Sun Records, where musicians such as Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash and began their recording careers, and where rock and roll took shape in the 1950s. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the nation's most visited national park. Other major tourist attractions includ

June Jubilee #68

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The flag of the People's Republic of China is a red field charged in the canton (upper left corner) with five golden stars. The design features one large star, with four smaller stars in a semicircle set off towards the fly (right side). The red represents revolution; the five stars and their relationship represent the unity of the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The flag was designed by Zeng Liansong, a citizen from Rui'an, Zhejiang. He designed it in response to a circular distributed by the Preparatory Committee of the New Political Consultative Conference in July 1949, shortly after they came to power following the Chinese Civil War. 2,992 entries were received for the design competition, and Zeng's design was put into a pool of 38 finalists. After several meetings and slight modifications, Zeng's design was chosen as the national flag. The first flag was hoisted by Mao Zedong on a pole overlooking Beijing's Tiana

#79 Finland

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Thank you Airi!

Private Swap - Michigan

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Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is a French adaptation of the Ojibwe word mishigama , meaning "large water" or "large lake". Michigan is the eighth most populous state in the United States. It has the longest freshwater shoreline of any political subdivision in the world, being bounded by four of the five Great Lakes, plus Lake Saint Clair. Michigan has 64,980 inland lakes and ponds. A person in the state is never more than 10 km from a natural water source or more than 140.3 km from a Great Lakes shoreline. Michigan is the only state to consist entirely of two peninsulas. The Lower Peninsula, to which the name Michigan was originally applied, is often dubbed "the mitten" by residents, owing to its shape.  The Upper Peninsula is separated from the Lower Peninsula by the Straits of Mackinac, a 8 km-wide channel that joins Lake Huron to Lake Michigan. The Upper Peninsula is e

Private Swap - Indiana

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Indiana is a U.S. state, the 19 th admitted to the Union. It is located in the Great Lakes Region, and with approximately 6.3 million residents, is ranked 16 th in population and 17 th in population density. Indiana is the smallest state in the continental US west of the Appalachian Mountains. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis, the largest of any state capital east of the Mississippi River. Residents of Indiana are known as Hoosiers, but the origin of the term is unknown. The state's name means "Land of the Indians", or simply "Indian Land". This name dates back to at least the 1760s and was first used by Congress when the Indiana Territory was incorporated in 1800, before which it had been part of the Northwest Territory. Prior to this, Indiana had been inhabited by varying cultures of indigenous peoples and historic American Indians for thousands of years. ( source ) Bird: Cardinal                      Tree: Tulip Flower: Peony                

Private Swap - Massachusetts

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Most of its population of 6.6 million lives in the Boston metropolitan area. Massachusetts is the most populous of the six New England states and ranks third among U.S. states in GDP per capita. Massachusetts has been significant throughout American history. Plymouth was the second permanent English settlement in North America. Many of Massachusetts's towns were founded by colonists from England in the 1620s and 1630s. In 2004, Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legally recognize same-sex marriage. The state has contributed many prominent politicians to national service, including the Adams family and the Kennedy family. ( source ) Bird: Chickadee                                Fish: Cod Flower: Mayflower                            Tree: American Elm Thank you Melissa!

Private Swap – Rhode Island

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The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations , more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area. Rhode Island was the first of the thirteen original colonies to declare independence from British rule and the last to ratify the United States Constitution. Rhode Island's official nickname is "The Ocean State," a reference to the state's geography, since Rhode Island has several large bays and inlets that amount to about 30% of its total area. Its land area is 2706 km 2 , but its total area is significantly larger (in the United States, all seawater and ocean floors that are more than three nautical miles from land belong to the Federal Government.) ( source ) Bird: Rhode Island Red                             Fish: Striped Bass Flower: Violet                                             Tree: Red Maple Thank you Melissa!

Private Swap - Idaho

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Idaho is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States of America. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890 as the 43rd state. Idaho is a mostly mountainous state, with an area larger than all of New England. In 2009 the population for Idaho was estimated to be 1,545,801. The state's postal abbreviation is ID. Idaho's nickname is the Gem State because nearly every known gem has been found there. In addition, Idaho is one of only two places in the world where star garnets can be found (the other is the Himalaya Mountains, in India), and is the only place six pointed star garnets have been found. The state motto is Esto Perpetua (Latin for "Let it be forever").Idaho is the 14th largest state by land area. ( source ) Flower: Syringa                                  Tree: White Pine Bird: Mountain Bluebird                      Fish: Rainbow Trout

Private Swap – South Dakota

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South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of 199,730 km 2 and an estimated population of just over 800,000. Pierre is the state capital and Sioux Falls, with a population of nearly 160,000, is South Dakota's largest city. Eastern South Dakota is home to most of the state's population, and fertile soil in this area is used to grow a variety of crops. The Black Hills are of great religious importance to local American Indians and the location of Mount Rushmore, a major tourist destination.  South Dakota experiences a temperate continental climate, with four distinct seasons and precipitation ranging from moderate in the east to semi-arid in the west. The ecology of the state features species typical of a North American grassland biome. ( source ) Bird: Ring-necked

Private Swap - Iowa

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Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland." It derives its name from the Iowan people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa is often known as the "Food Capital of the World", however Iowa's economy, culture, and landscape are diverse. In the mid and late 20th century, Iowa's agricultural economy transitioned to a diversified economy of advanced manufacturing, processing, financial services, biotechnology, and green energy production. Iowa has been listed as one of the safest states in which to live. Des Moines is Iowa's capital and largest city. ( source ) Bird: Eastern Goldfinch                                     Tree: Oak Flower: Wild Prairie Rose Thank you Ginny!

Private Swap - Montenegro

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Herceg Novi is a coastal town in Montenegro located at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor and at the foot of Mount Orjen. It is the administrative center of the Herceg-Novi municipality with around 33,000 inhabitants. The city has had a turbulent past, despite being one of the youngest settlements on the Adriatic. A history of varied occupations has created a blend of diverse and picturesque architectural style in the city. Herceg Novi is a major Montenegrin tourist destination. It is well known as a spa and health center; nearby Igalo has an abundance of healing sea mud and mineral water springs called. The most famous tourist attractions in Herceg Novi are castle Forte Mare built by the Bosnian king Tvrtko I in 1382, a clock tower built by Austrians in 19th century, the Kanli tower built by Turks, and the Serbian church St. Michael Archangel in central Belavista Square. ( source ) Thank you Sofija!

Private Swap - Brazil

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Ceremonial of the flag change. Thank you Jobson!

Private Swap - Pakistan

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These postcards of Afghanistan, Qatar and India are sent from Pakistan. Thank you Syed!

Private Swap – Faroe Islands

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Tórshavn is the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands. The city itself has a population of 19,000 (2008). The city was founded in the 10th century. ( source ) The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Britain and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a constituent country of the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland. The Faroe Islands have been an autonomous province of the Kingdom of Denmark since 1948. Over the years, the Faroese have been granted control of most matters. Some areas still remain the responsibility of Denmark, such as military defense and foreign affairs. ( source ) Thank you Christina!

Private Swap - Arkansas

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Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquin name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares a border with six states, with its eastern border largely defined by the Mississippi River. Its diverse geography ranges from the mountainous regions of the Ozarks and the Ouachita Mountains, which make up the U.S. Interior Highlands, to the eastern lowlands along the Mississippi River. The capital and most populous city is Little Rock, located in the central portion of the state. Arkansas supplies 96 percent of the nation's domestic bauxite and has the only diamond mine in the United States. (via Wikipedia ) Tree: Shortleaf Pine                     Flower: Apple Blossom Bird: Mockingbird                         Song: Arkansas Motto: The People Rule Thank you Nancy!

Private Swap - Indiana

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Thank you Nancy!

Private Swap - Illinois

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Illinois is the most populous and demographically diverse Midwestern state and the fifth most populous state in the nation. Illinois is an important transportation hub; the Port of Chicago connects the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River via the Illinois River. Three U.S. Presidents have been elected while they were living in Illinois — Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and Barack Obama. However, the only US President actually born in Illinois was Ronald Reagan. (via Wikipedia ) Capital: Springfield                                Bird: Cardinal Flower: Butterfly Violet                          Tree: Bur Oak Motto: State Sovereignty, National Union Thank you Nancy!

Private Swap - Georgia

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Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. Georgia was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788. With an estimated 9,829,211 residents as of 2009, Georgia is the ninth most populous state. Georgia is known as the Peach State and the Empire State of the South . Atlanta is the capital and the most populous city. With an area of 153,909 km 2 , Georgia is ranked 24th in size among the 50 U.S. states. Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River in terms of land area, although it is the fourth largest in total area, a term which includes expanses of water which are part of state territory. (via Wikipedia ) Bird: Brown Thrasher                                      Fish: Largemouth Bass Flower: Cherokee Rose                                  Gem: Quartz Motto: "Wisdom, Justice & Moderation"          Tree: Live Oak Than