Special delivery.When the sleepy South Pacific republic of Vanuatu wanted to stamp itself on the map--and lure more tourists--it opened the world's first underwater post office. The fiberglass booth hunkers Hunkers, conservative faction of the Democratic party in New York state in the 1840s, so named because they were supposed to "hanker" or "hunker" after office. In opposition to them stood the radical Democrats, or Barnburners. down on the seabed of Hideaway Island, a coral atoll atoll: see coral reefs. atoll Coral reef enclosing a lagoon. Atolls consist of ribbons of reef that may not be circular but that are closed shapes, sometimes miles across, around a lagoon that may be 160 ft (50 m) deep or more. (donut-shaped reef island enclosing a lagoon). Customers dive 3 meters (9.8 feet) to mail postcards made of Syntek, a plastic-like material. Instead of ink stamps, scuba-geared postal workers process penciled-in cards with an embossing embossing, process of producing upon various materials designs or patterns in relief by mechanical means. The material is pressed between a pair of dies especially adapted to its hardness and the depth of the design needed. machine. The attraction celebrates the archipelago's (island group) rich marine life. "The water is clean and free from urban runoff," explains Ian Hollins of Vanuatu Post. Vibrant corals and thousands of tropical fish tropical fish Any of various small fishes of tropical origin often kept in aquariums. They are interesting for their behaviour or showiness or both. Popular varieties include the angelfish, guppy, kissing gourami, sea horse, Siamese fighting fish, and tetra. species flourish here. So swim on down! |
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