Anyways, without too much chit-chat, let's get down to today's Sunday Stamps edition on the subject of mountains, for which I have this Swiss cover to show.
The Swiss Post issued this strip of 3 stamps on 8 March 2012, and I am happy to have this cover sent on its first day of issue (million thanks to Sara for that), with a postage value of 100 CHF, named "Sunrise at the Martinsloch", where you can see a truly remarkable phenomenon.
The Martinsloch mountain in the Alps has developed a hole that is 21 meters high and 18 meters wide in the rock of the Grosser Tschingelhorn.
Twice a year - on 13/14 March at 8.53 a.m. and on 30 September/1 October at 9.32 a.m. - the sun briefly shines straight through the Martinsloch just before it is due to rise, illuminating the church tower in Elm, as can be seen on these stamps here.
At set intervals, the moon can also be seen through the Martinsloch.
The site is now designated a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.
For more mountain beauties, see what others have chosen today at Sunday Stamps
What a stunning sight that must be, beautifully shown on the Swiss stamps.
ReplyDeleteThe stamps show the event perfectly. I was disappointed not to find any Swiss mountain stamps.
ReplyDelete@Bob - I don't have any Swiss mountain stamps either - how odd, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, thank goodness for that notch allowing the sunlight - ever so briefly - to illuminate the tower!
Oh, such beautiful stamps! I love the sunlight shining on the Swiss clock!
ReplyDeleteThat cover is beautiful, and I found the story interesting!
ReplyDelete