Dead Sea

 

Israel Post has issued the stamp series features the Dead Sea,  also known as the Sea of Salt, the Valley of Sidim, the Ancient Sea and the Sea of the Arava - is a hypersaline lake that constitutes the eastern gateway into Israel, on 30.06.2010.

The Dead Sea is a home and a way of life and its surroundings also have religious meaning and the historical heritage, pioneer-ship and Zionism that it represents tell the tale of one of the most fascinating and tumultuous periods in the history of Eretz Israel.

The Dead Sea, the world’s largest spa, is key to Israel’s tourism, thanks to the therapeutic and extreme sports opportunities it offers. Its salinity allows for a unique floating experience and the minerals found in the water and in the mud along the shore provide added health benefits while bathing. It is an astoundingly beautiful area hosting wadis, cliffs and a unique zoological and botanical environment.

 

The issued stamp depicts an ibex along a rocky cliff in the Judean Desert, a section of the Dead Sea with salt “sculptures”, a floating tourist, the Dead Sea against the background of the Dragot Cliffs and the Edom Mountains in Jordan .

The sea originally sprawled from Beit HaArava to Sodom, within the area now belonging to the Megilot Dead Sea and Tamar Regional Councils. The current boundaries of the sea run from Masada in the south to Kalia. The Kingdom of Jordan lies along the sea’s Eastern bank.

The Dead Sea, the lowest place on the face of the Earth, is a national and global natural treasure, currently situated 422.22 meters below sea level (as of May 2009). This level decreases daily, with an annual cumulative reduction of up to 1.20 meters each year over the last 30 years. Receding water levels are due mainly to the damming of the Jordan River at the Degania Dam, with the Dead Sea Works operations playing a minor role as well.

(Resources from Head of Megilot Dead Sea Tamar )
 

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Forest–Aland

This year 2011 Europa stamp theme is Forest. Therefore Aland Post through Artist Anette Gustafsson painted the picturesque edge of a forest. The stamps issued only one piece on May 09, 2011.The stamp have logo of Europa 2011.

Around 60 % of Åland is covered by forest.  More than 40 varieties of trees and shrubs can be found in the Åland forests.Pine-forests dominate the northern parts of Åland, whereas the southern parts consist of deciduous forests. On the main Åland mostly found mixed forest.

Spruce, pine and yew are three types of conifers native to Åland. Pine is the most common type of tree, both in dense forests and on bare cliffs. Spruce, on the other hand, needs nutritious soil to thrive.

Common juniper, a shrub more than a tree, is also common in Åland. In the outer archipelago, junipers grow low, trailing along the cliffs, whereas the ones found in fertile soil are often tall and lofty. 

Noble trees such as ash, oak, elm, maple and lime tree are relatively common, ash being the most common species native to Åland.

Other common types of deciduous trees are birch, alder, aspen, rowan, Swedish white beam, bird cherry and Finnish white beam. 

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