Mountain Lion Cubs - USA

 Aren't these mountain lion cubs adorable? this beautiful card was one of my favorites and it was sent by Taylor.

Did you know that Puma concolor holds the Guinness record for the animal with the greatest number of names? In English alone it has more than 40. Mountain lion, puma, panther, wildcat, catamount, painter, cougar... — different names, same animal. 

Photo by Michael Mauro

Much of Colorado, including the Front Range, is prime mountain lion country. These large, powerful predators have always lived here, preying on plentiful deer and playing an important role in the ecosystem. 

The mountain lion (...) exists only in the Western Hemisphere and is one of North America's biggest cats. In Colorado, population estimates range from 3,000 to 7,000 mountain lions. A lion's natural life span is probably about 12 years in the wild and up to 25 years in captivity. 

Lions are very powerful and usually kill large animals, such as deer and elk. Natural enemies include other large predators such as bears, lions, and wolves. They also fall victim to accidents, disease, road hazards, and people. - in: https://steamboatsprings.net

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 How fantastic it must be to walk through a slot like that! This one is a sandstone slot in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

A slot canyon is a long, narrow channel or drainageway with sheer rock walls that are typically eroded into either sandstone or other sedimentary rock. 

Slots like these are beautiful but can be dangerous when it rains as they flood easily and can be difficult to get out of quickly due to the steep walls.

Photography: David Muench

US-12661367, sent by Megan & Layla.

Glen Canyon is the broader sandstone canyon system carved by the Colorado River through Navajo and Wingate sandstone, much of it now submerged beneath Lake Powell following the construction of Glen Canyon Dam. Protected today as Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the canyon includes stretches of river both above and below the reservoir, along with significant archaeological and cultural resources tied to the region's long Indigenous history. - in: https://www.grandcanyonjourneys.com

Canyon de Chelly - USA

 I'm not done with American cards yet! I actually got one more official card yesterday. I'me getting a lot of official cards from the US but those that i'm sending are not getting there. 

The 1st one of these is an official but the other was sent by Carol to wish me an happy birthday in.... 2011!

 

US-12661364, sent by Sydney.

Canyon de Chelly is a protected site that contains the remains of 5,000 years of Native American inhabitation. Canyon de Chelly is located in the northeastern portion of the US state of Arizona within the Navajo Nation and not too far from the border with neighboring New Mexico. It is located 472 km (293 miles) northwest of Phoenix, Arizona. Canyon de Chelly is unique in the United States as it preserves the ruins and rock art of indigenous peoples that lived in the region for centuries - the Ancestral Puebloans and the Navajo. Canyon de Chelly has been recognized as a US National Monument since 1931, and it is one of the most visited National Monuments in the United States today.

Photo by George H. H. Huey

On the back of the card: Fall foliage and a silver ribbon of water flowing in Chinie Wash enhance the beauty of the red rocks seen from Tsegi Overlook.

Canyon de Chelly sits at an elevation of over 1829 m (6,000 ft) and bisects the Defiance Plateau in eastern Arizona. The tributaries of the Chinle Creek, which runs through Canyon de Chelly and originates in the Chuska Mountains, have carved the rock and landscape for thousands of years, creating red cliffs that rise up an additional 305 m (1000 ft).
Canyon de Chelly is one of the longest continuously inhabited places anywhere in North America, and archaeologists believe that human settlement in the canyon dates back some 5,000 years. Ancient prehistoric tribes and peoples utilized the canyon while hunting and migrating seasonally, but they did not construct permanent settlements within the canyon. Nonetheless, these prehistoric peoples did leave etchings on stones and on canyon walls throughout what is now Canyon de Chelly. - in: https://www.worldhistory.org

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The Fire Island Lighthouse, the sixth tallest lighthouse in the country and the tallest in New York City!

 If you dare to climb  the 182 steps of the tower, on a clear day, you can see the New York City skyline in the distance.

 

US-12661343, sent by Erin.

The Fire Island Lighthouse is an iconic landmark on the western end of the island.
The current lighthouse stands 180 feet tall (51 meters), and was built in 1858. It dwarfs the original 1826 lighthouse which stood at only 74ft. The Fire Island Lighthouse has served as a navigational aid for local mariners and was the first light immigrants saw when coming to America in the 1800s. The lighthouse light remained dark for twelve years (1974-1986 when the United States Coast Guard decommissioned the tower. Luckily the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society was formed and raised over $1.2 million to relight the light on Memorial Day of 1986.
Today, the lighthouse is run by volunteers who share their passion for the history of Fire Island, the lighthouse, and Long Island. - in: https://fireislandferries.com

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This card deserves a post on its own. Pamuk says Colonial Williamsburg is the most beautiful palace in the US. I don't know about that but I'm sure I'd like to visit it.

Colonial Williamsburg is the world’s largest living-history museum and serves as a window into 18th-century Virginia on the eve of the American Revolution. Once the capital of the colony, Williamsburg was at the center of political debate, revolutionary fervor, and the daily lives of ordinary Virginians. Today, the restored city features original and reconstructed buildings, allowing visitors to walk the same streets as figures such as Patrick Henry, George Wythe, and Thomas Jefferson. 

The historic area is brought to life by costumed interpreters, craftsmen, and reenactors who demonstrate trades, politics, and military practices of the period. Taverns, homes, shops, and government buildings show the breadth of colonial society, while military encampments and militia drills highlight Virginia’s role in the Revolution. - in: https://thelibertytrail.org

 

© The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

US-12661349, sent by Pamuk. 

More than 300 buildings comprise the colonial capital city. 89 of those buildings are original to the 18th century, while the rest were carefully reconstructed based on extensive research and archaeological evidence. This preservation process started with the founding of Colonial Williamsburg in the 1930.

One of the area’s most recognizable landmarks is the Governor’s Palace.
Originally completed in 1722, the Palace was home to seven British royal governors, Virginia’s first two elected governors (including Thomas Jefferson), and hundreds of servants and enslaved people. After a fire destroyed the Palace in the late 1700s, Virginia’s capital moved from Williamsburg to Richmond. The Governor’s Palace was meticulously reconstructed in the 1930s, and today you can tour its lavish interiors and explore its sprawling gardens. - in: https://www.visitwilliamsburg.com

Covered Bridges in Pennsylvania

And wouldn't you know it, I kinda like covered bridges!! I've received several postcards with this type of bridge, and most of them came from the state of Pennsylvania. And it's no wonder, Pennsylvania is the state with the most covered bridges. These are just 3, but there are 209.

Of the nearly 14,000 authentic wooden covered bridges that once existed in the United States, less than 900 remain. Over the years, many covered bridges have been destroyed by fire, flooding, or vandalism. The majority of the others simply collapsed due to age and disrepair, and some were torn down to make way for newer iron bridges. - in: https://heartofpa.com

 

US-919518, sent by Dan.

"The Forksville Covered Bridge is a Burr arch truss covered bridge over Loyalsock Creek in the borough of Forksville, Sullivan County, in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It was built in 1850 and is 152 feet 11 inches (46.61 m) in length. The bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The Forksville bridge is named for the borough it is in, which is named for its location at the confluence or "forks" of the Little Loyalsock and Loyalsock Creeks.

The bridge was restored in 1970 and 2004 and is still in use (...). It is one of three remaining covered bridges in Sullivan County (...)." - in: wikipedia 

 

 Color photo by Bron Miller © Modern-Ad

The McGees Mills Covered Bridge is a historic Burr truss wooden covered bridge located near Mahaffey, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a 109 foot bridge built in 1873 over the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. - in: wikipedia

 

 Photo © Thomas E. Walczak

 

US-2185668, sent by Julie.

On the back of the card: "The Logan Mills Covered Bridge, in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, spans the Fishing Creek in Loganton. Seen here in winter, the bridge was originally built in 1866, then rebuilt in 1979, and still allows traffic. Locals and tourists enjoy the charm and character of this lovely historic structure."

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 The Pulp Mill Covered Bridge, also called the Paper Mill Covered Bridge, is a wooden covered bridge that crosses Otter Creek between Middlebury and Weybridge, Vermont on Seymour Street. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

 

Photography: Alois Mayer

US-12403354, sent by Betty.

This bridge has many distinctions. It is one of only seven double-barreled (two lane) covered bridges in the country, one of only two in the State of Vermont (the Museum Covered Bridge being the other), and the only still carrying regular traffic. It is also the oldest covered bridge in Vermont, and one of the oldest in the country.
The exact age of the bridge is in question. A sign on the bridge states it was built between 1808 and 1820. - in: wikipedia