Nauru II

BEST! DAY! EVER! Two new countries in one day. So amazing. A super big 非常感謝 and heartfelt thanks to Hsiang-chi who sent my first Nauruan card sans stamp and very kindly offered to send a second with. I'll forever be in his debt, as Nauru is certainly one of the trickier countries to strike off the list.

Card shows coral rocks at Anibare Bay, Nauruan boy holding a frigate bird, a sunset and Buada Lagoon.

Two stamps from a 1991 set of 12 on local flowers, featuring hibiscus on the left and clerodendon on the left, both common flower types in the tropics.

Nauru

A card from the tiny, isolated South Pacific country of Nauru, the world's third smallest and second least populated country. The country is famous, or more aptly infamous, for the terrible environmental impact phosphate mining has wrought on the small coral island. Phosphate was strip mined from the centre of the island, leaving behind a scorched and lifeless moonscape that can barely support the 9000 people who call Nauru their home. Seen here are the cantilevers used to deliver phosphate to cargo ships.

Many thanks to Hsiang-chi who very kindly agreed to swap cards with me. 謝謝你!

No stamp on this postage prepaid postcard, so unfortunately my hunt for a stamped card send from Nauru continues. Coat of arms of Nauru is shown, with the alchemical symbol for phosphate in the upper section.