Planet Ocean - 1st day of issue  AUSTRALIAN STAMPS

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Stamps of Fiji

Pitcairn Is.

Samoa

.Creatures of the Night

Australian/Singapore
Joint Issue
ORCHIDS

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Christmas Is Stamps
ORCHIDS

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Christmas Is Stamps
CHRISTMAS
Released September

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Christmas Island is a tiny island in the Indian Ocean, 2620 kilometres northwest of Perth and 360 kilometres south of Java.  From its central plateau the land drops in a series of terraces to steep cliffs.  Over half the island is a national park, designed to protect its unique flora and fauna.  The island was annexed by Britain in 1888 and has been mined for phosphate since the turn of the century.  Aftera  chequered history, including being occupied by the Japanese during World War II, on 1 October Christmas Island  became an Australian Territory.  The population numbers approximately 2000 peodple, half of whom are Chinese.   Of the remainder 30% are European, 15% Malay and 5% of Indian or other descent.

History

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Christmas stamps

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FIJI
NORFOLK ISLAND

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PITCAIRN
SAMOA
AUSTRALIA

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PLANET OCEAN
First day of Issue
1 October 1998

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PLANET OCEAN:   Ocean covers more than 70% of the earth's surface, yet no more than two percent has been explored.  Beneath its surface is a varied terrain tht supports an extraordinary array of exotic marine creatures.   Commemorating the United Nations Interntional Year of the Ocean, the stamps highlight some of the fascinating and popular animals found in Australia's temperate waters.   Weedy Seadragon (Phyllopteryz taeniolatus) is found only in southern Australian waters and there is growing concern for its protection.  The Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) folics in coastal waters, while the Manta Ray (Manta birostris) and White Pointer Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) are continental shelf dwellers.   The Fiery Squid (Pyroteuthis margaritifera) lives in the dark warters of the deeo sea, below 200 metres.  The Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) is an ocean traveller, but can be seen in shallow waters off the southern coast of Australia after its annual winter migration from Antarctic feeding grounds.

.      CREATURES OF THE NIGHT

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