| WORLD OF STAMPS |
| Long, long ago, messages were sent in unusual ways- by drums and signal fires, on the wings of carrier pigeons, on the backs of camels and elephants , horses and reindeer, by chariots, dogsleds, skis and sledges, by carts drawn by St. Bernard dogs on their rounds to chalets. The Incas and the Aztecs inscribed their early messages on lima beans; runners ran in relays, with bells fastened to their belts; and the first mailbox was said to be a man's boot nailed to a post. M. de Pree |
| The first postage stamps was issued by Great Britain on May 6, 1840. A schoolteacher, named Rowland Hills designed the one penny stamp that became the world's first stamp called the Penny Black. In United States, the first two stamps were issued in July 1, 1847 showing George Washington (10 cents), our first president and Benjamin Franklin (5 cents), the first U.S. Postmaster General. It was a brilliant idea of having a postage stamps that one by one, other countries all over the world copied the simple new invention. We will be seeing some of the stamps as we travel into the world of stamps. |
 |
 |
| Daffy Duck, US 1999 |
| Wile E. Coyote, US 2000 |
| Arbor Day, Israel |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
| In the dawn of day , The colour of the sky Has a "change of clothes." |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Updated 11/15/01 |
|
|
|
| ASIA AND THE PACIFIC Asia is the largest continent by far. It has more land and more people than any other continents. It is so big that Australia and North America could fit inside it. Asia and Europe are joined along one side. Asia has some of the world's highest mountains, largest deserts and plains, and thickest jungles. There are cold deserts in central and northern Asia, hot deserts in the southwest, and steamy tropics in the southeast. Many Asians live in crowded cities, such as Tokyo in Japan, Delhi in India, and Beijing in China. But there are also many places in Asia where very few people live. There are 49 countries in Asia. Two of the world's largest countries, Russia and China, are in Asia. In fact, Russia is so big that it lies on two continents. Part of it is in Europe and part of it is in Asia. Visitors to Asia often visit the Great Wall of China. It was built more than 1,000 years ago and stretches thousands of miles long across north-central China. Many mountain climbers are drawn to Asia's Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world. AFRICA Africa is the second largest continent. Steamy tropical rain forests cover parts of western and central Africa. The largest desert called Sahara Desert stretches across most of the northern part. The longest freshwater lake in the world, lake Tanganyika lies in eastern Africa. A sea separates most of Africa and Asia, but in one place the two continents meet. Africa has 53 countries. Its largest country is Sudan. The smallest is Seychelles. Most Africans live in rural areas, but some live in cities such as Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Cape Town in South Africa, and Lagos in Nigeria. Many people travel to Africa to study its wild animals, visit such ancient sites as the pyramids of Egypt, or see such natural wonders as Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Kilimanjaro, a towering volcano that is no longer active in Burundi. NORTH AMERICA North America is the third largest continent. It has fewer people than Europe, Asia or Africa. The northen part of the continent is near the North Pole. The southern part is connected to South America by a narrow strip of land. The north has icy plains and the south has sunny beaches. North America includes magnificent mountain peaks, sandy deserts, flat grasslands, and thick forests. It has 23 countries. Canada is the biggest, but the United States has the most people. Major North American cities include Calgary, Montreal, and Toronto in Canada; Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York in the United States; Havana, in Cuba; and Mexico City, in Mexico. Many people around the world would like to see the CN Tower in Toronto Canada, one of the world's highest free-standing structures. The Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor is one of the world's most famous monuments. This majestic copper sculpture of a woman holding a torch towers 151 feet (46 meters). A stairway inside the statue lets visitors look out through Liberty's crown. For immigrants who enter the United States through New York Harbor, the statue is a symbol of freedom and opportunity. SOUTH AMERICA South America is the fourth largest continent. It has a tropical rain forests, deserts, snowy peaks, volcanoes, and rolling grasslands. South America has fewer people than North America. Most of South America lies south of the equator. At the north, the continent is joined to North America by a narrow strip of land. The southern part of the continent is close to Antarctica. South America has 12 countries. The largest country in South America is Brazil. The smallest country is Suriname. Most people in South America live in crowded cities. People travel to South America to see such ancient ruins as Machu Picchu. The Amazon rain forest and Iguacu Falls are also in South America. ANTARCTICA Antarctica is the fifth largest continent. Although Antarctica is larger than Australia, nobody lives there all the time. That is because Antarctica is the coldest and iciest place in the world. The South Pole is located in Antarctica. The stormy waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans surround Antarctica. Ships must steer around towering icebergs and break through huge ice fields to reach the continent. On Antarctica, most of the land is buried on ice. This ice can measure thousands of feet thick, about five times as tall as the world's tallest building. But under the ice, Antarctica has mountains, lowlands, and valleys, just like the other continents do. Scientists and travelers visit Antarctica for short periods. Scientists from many nations come to study the continent's animals and plants, ice, and rocks. Only a few small plants and insects can survive on Antarctica's dry land. But many animals, including fish, penguins, whales, and flying birds, live in the cold waters around Antarctica. EUROPE Europe is the sixth largest continent. It is a region of mountain ranges, rugged coastlines, deep valleys, and plains. Thousands of islands, including Iceland, Corsica, Great Britain, and Ireland, are part of Europe. All of Europe lies north of the equator. The parts that are farthest north are close to the North Pole. Europe is joined to Asia on the East. It is separated from Africa by the Mediterranean Sea. A mountain range called the Alps cuts across the southern part of the continent. There are 47 countries in Europe. The largest country, Russia, is also the largest country in the world. Part of Russia is in Europe and part of it is in Asia. Vatican City is the smallest country in the world. It is so small that it fits entirely within the city of Rome, Italy. People from all over the world love to visit Europe for its museums and historic buildings. Many also wants to visit the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. AUSTRALIA Australia is the smallest continent. It is famous for its huge open areas of land, its bright sunshine, and its unusual animals. It is a dry land with few people. In fact it has fewer people than any continent except Antarctica. Australia lies entirely south of the equator. For that reason, it is often called "The land Down Under." Australia is completely surrounded by water. It is often grouped with the island of New Zealand and other Pacific islands, which togerther are called Oceania. Australia is a country, and it is the only country that is also a continent. The island of Tasmania is part of Australia. In Australia, most people live in cities near the coasts, such as Sydney and Melbourne. But some people live in the outback, a vast area of dry, flat land far from the cities, in the middle of the continent. People go to Australia to hear music at the beautiful Sydney Opera House. Divers visit the Great Barrier Reef, a chain of coral reefs. Other people go to Australia to see such wildlife as kangaroos and koalas. |
 |
| CONTINENTS OF THE WORLD The earth has seven huge land areas called continents. Some are connected to each other. Others are completely surrounded by water. These chunks of land are so large that some may have snowy mountains on one part and steamy forests on another. They may have dozens of countries or just one. The seven continents are Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America. Australia is an island, a piece of land totally surrounded by water. But is is such huge island that it is also a continent. Other countries, such as Europe and North America, have islands that are considered a part of them. There are also thousands of smaller islands, such as a group of islands called the Pacific Islands, that are not counted as part of the continents. Europe and Asia are joined on one side, but they are thought of as two continents. |
|
|
|
|
|
|