MALDIVES

This lovely card shows the serene, low-lying isles of the Maldives, surrounded by a magnificent clear blue sea, alluring for snorkelers and scuba divers eager to view the diverse coral reefs below the waters.

Maldives: stamp

R2: the card above was franked with this colorful stamp featuring Windsurfing, a popular holiday sport of tourists visiting the islands of this atoll nation

RWANDA

This card shows a gentle family of mountain gorillas, native to the forests of the Virungas highlands on the borders of Rwanda, Congo and Uganda. The study of this endangered primate was made famous by Dian Fossey, who established a camp at Karisoke, within the Parc des Volcans. Now gorilla tourism is a major local activity in the parks of the region, showing the benefits of wildlife conservation.

SEYCHELLES

This lovely card shows the sweeping view from Casse Dent, a hill on Mahe, the largest island of the Seychelles. Just 155 sq. km. in size, Mahe holds the capital, Victoria and some 90% of the country's population.

Seychelles: stamp

R3: A beautiful coastal scene is the subject of this stamp issue, ironically issued to commemorate a conference regarding oil exploration in the Indian Ocean

ST. LUCIA

The rugged coastline of St. Lucia, with its multiples beaches of white sand has become a treasured Caribbean destination. The island's history was tumultuous: Britian and France battled for centuries for control of the island, before Britian asserted dominance after 1814.