WATERFALLS OF THE WORLD By W. Robert James, Spetember 1998 |
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To any collector who appreciates natural beauty or scenic variety, waterfalls and
cascades on maximum cards offer rich rewards. The dedicated topicalist will also quickly
find that expansion of his or her collection into world-wide Maximaphilia enhances an
appreciation of geology, geography and topics such as history, hydrology, literature,
poetry and art--all that relate in some way to waterfalls.
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate two views of the Iguacu or Iguassu Falls that are situated on
the border of Brazil and Argentina. These are undoubtedly the most spectacular falls on
the planet. In common with Victoria Falls and Niagara Falls, the Iguacu Falls are visited
by spellbound tourists year-round. The falls are three miles wide, 250 feet high, and
consist of well over 21 individual, named cascades.
The Iguacu view (Fig.1) shown by Brazil (Scott #455) is the south-central bank of the
falls known as Garganta do Diabo, while the Argentina view (Iguassu, Scott #985) is of
the northern grouping. Many other views are shown on the stamps and postal stationery of
both countries, as well as on stamps of the United Nations and North Korea. The scenic
variations possible with maximum cards of Iguassu Falls offers a true challenge.
One of Europe’s most dramatic waterfalls is located in the Hohe Tauren National Park in
the state of Salzburg, Austria. These are the Krimmler Falls, shown on Scott #1353 in
Figure 3. The hamlet of Krimml sits at the base of the three-step cascade amid pristine
alpine scenery, and a scenic path follows the course of the falls from glacier to valley.
They are Austria’s highest falls (1250 ft.) and well worth a visit. These falls also appear
on Scott #862, on several commemorative cancellations, on Austria scenic postal card sets
of the 1950s (Michel #P345) and even on Notegeld of the post-WWI era.
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Fig. 1. Salto Iguasso. B/W Postcard: Commercia l. Cancel: Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, Jan. 10, 1947.
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Fig. 2. Garganta do Diabo. Color Postcard: Commercial. Cancel: Buenos Aires, Argentina, Dec. 16, 1972, F.D.O.I.
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Fig. 3. Krimmler Waterfall. Color Postcard: Pub. by Maxiglob (Commercial). Cancel: Pictorial (Triple), Werbeschau des Brucker, Austria, Aug. 19, 1988.
A waterfall with recurring ties to history, both ancient and modern, is found in Macedonian
Greece. Figure 4 (Scott #1629) illustrates one of several cascades at Edessa (Edhessa)
just northwest of Thessaloniki. The falls drop some 80 ft. The falls have also been
featured on Scott #1797. The site marks ancient Aigai, the first capital of Macedonia
founded by Perdikkas, and was the locale of the assassination of Phillip II in 366 B.C.
His son, Alexander the Great, knew of the falls, as did Lord Byron. Greece commemorated the
1822 Battle of Edessa against the Ottoman Turks, fought next to the falls, on Scott
#962-965.
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Fig. 4. Edessa Waterfall. Color Postcard: Pub. by J. Recos & Co. (Commercial) Cancel: Greece, July 4,1988.
Another waterfall with a history of a different sort is the Chang-bai Falls of Jilin,
in northeast mainland China. These falls, shown in Figure 5 (Scott #2455), are 233 ft.
high and are often compared in beauty to the Milky Way. They have existed only since 1702,
when volcanic activity and a landslide changed the area’s geology. The deep Heaven Lake
was created by a natural dam, over which the spectacular falls now feed the Erdao Baihe,
and (eventually) Yalu rivers.
This is China’s largest natural wilderness reserve and it adjoins North Korea. If
waterfalls are a topic of interest to reader-collectors, the Earth’s Physical Features
study unit is strongly recommended. For further information contact Fred Klein, 515
Magdalena Ave., Los Altos, CA 94024.
W. Robert James had been collecting waterfalls for over 30 years. He was drawn to the
topic by the visual appeal of many of the stamps. He was introduced to Maximaphily by
long-time members and collectors Sebastian Safiano and Daniel Olsen. He would be happy
to buy more “falls” cards. He also collects Cincerellas, Postal Stationery, and Paper
currency/Notgeld with “falls”. Mr. James can be reached at 13 Standish Circle, Andover,
MA 01810.
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Fig. 5. Chang-bai Falls. Color Postcard: Commercial. Cancel: Jilin, China. Sept. 19, 1993.
Editor: Jesse F.Knight .|
Webmaster: Itzhak Shdemati
Last Updating: Feb-06-2000
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