Monday, September 22, 2008

Ascension Island, Country #199 Of My Collection

Today, I received just 1 postcard, but it is a new country to my collection, so 1 is good. It is from Ascension Island, the 199th country from which I have received a stamped postcard. Ascension Island is an island in the South Atlantic Ocean, 1600 kms from the coast of Africa. It is a dependency of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, which is just 1287 kms to the south east. Wideawake Airfield, a joint facility of The Royal Air Force and The United States Air Force is located on Ascension. Ascension Island hosts one of the five ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System. The island has around 1100 persons and its capital is Georgetown, from where my postcard was posted. It is a small island with just 91 square kms and was first inhabited in 1815.

The card shows Green Mountain, with an elevation of 859 metres . Green Mountain is the only place on Ascension where the vegetation is green and lush. The oldest building on Ascension , dating back to the 1820's is Garden Cottage, located about 766 metres up Green Mountain.

The card was sent to me by a clerk in the Ascension Island Philatelic Bureau. Thanks to the clerk for a great addition to my collection. The stamp used is from a 2008 set of 12 definitives featuring fish, insects, turtles, butterflies birds and reptiles. My stamp is of a Green Turtle.

All in all just a great card. Now of course the guess is on as to what will be country #200.
I guess we wait and see. But of course if anyone wants to make a guess and it is correct, then he or she will receive a nice cover of postcard, their choice which. First email with the correct country gets the prize.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

congratulation, very great and nice postcard.

Igor