AUSTRALIA #6

The Mirsky Castle Complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Belarus. It is located in the town of Mir, in the Karelichy District of the Hrodna voblast, 29 km to the north-west from another World Heritage site, Nesvizh Castle. Mir Castle Complex is situated at an elevation of 164 meters. From 1921 to 1939 the castle was located in Poland.

Thanks Laurent!

AUS-185

AUSTRALIA #5

Waltzing Matilda is Australia's most widely known bush ballad, and has been referred to as "the unofficial national anthem of Australia". The original lyrics were written in 1895 by poet and nationalist Banjo Paterson. It was first published as sheet music in 1903. Extensive folklore surrounds the song and the process of its creation, to the extent that the song has its own museum, the Waltzing Matilda Centre in Winton, Queensland. In 2012, to remind Australians of the song's significance, Winton organised the inaugural Waltzing Matilda Day to be held on 6 April, the anniversary of its first performance.

Thanks Olga!

AU-426406

AUSTRALIA #4

The Glass House Mountains are a group of eleven hills that rise abruptly from the coastal plain on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. The highest mountain is Mount Beerwah at 556 m above sea level, but the most identifiable of all the mountains is Mount Tibrogargan which from some directions appears to be a face staring out to sea. Whilst the traditional names for the mountains themselves are very old, the term 'Glasshouse Mountains' was given more recently by explorer Captain James Cook on 17 May 1770. The peaks reminded him of the glass furnaces in his home county of Yorkshire. Matthew Flinders explored the area and climbed Mount Beerburrum after sailing along Pumicestone Passage in 1799. The Glass House Mountains National Landscape was added to the Australian National Heritage.

Thanks Jo!

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AUSTRALIA #3

The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia. It is the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae, and its closest living relatives are the wombats. The koala is found in coastal areas of the mainland's eastern and southern regions, inhabiting Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. It is easily recognisable by its stout, tailless body; round, fluffy ears; and large, spoon-shaped nose. The koala has a body length of 60–85 cm and weighs 4–15 kg. Pelage colour ranges from silver grey to chocolate brown. Koalas from the northern populations are typically smaller and lighter in colour than their counterparts further south. These populations possibly are separate subspecies, but this is disputed.

Thanks Jo-Anne!

AU-421099

AUSTRALIA #2 Direct Swap

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The name "Melbourne" refers to an urban agglomeration area (and census statistical division) spanning 9,900 km2 (3,800 sq mi) that comprises the greater metropolis – as well as being a common name for its metropolitan hub, the Melbourne City Centre. It is a leading financial centre in Australia, as well as the Asia-Pacific region, and has been ranked the world's most livable city since 2011 (and among the top three since 2002), according the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). In 2013 the EIU also ranked Melbourne the fourth most expensive city in the world, tying with Oslo, Norway. Melbourne is rated highly in the areas of education, entertainment, healthcare, research and development, tourism and sports

Thanks Natasha!

Sent on: 06/02/2015
Received on: 26/02/2015
Travel time: 20 days

AUSTRALIA #1

This is the card that came from farther away, 14.989 km! It's wonderful, showing the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, one of the wonders of Australia.

Thanks Steve!

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