Unusual post offices around the world

Unusual post offices around the world

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World Post Day: Unusual post offices around the world

The internet may have overshadowed the concept of snail mail, yet post offices still hold a special place in our lives and memories. As World Post Day is observed on October 9, we take a look at unusual post offices, many located in some of the most remote and unlikeliest of places.

TO GO WITH VANUATU-POSTA scuba diver mans the world's first underwater post office as a snorkeller uses the aquatic post box off the coast of Hideaway Island in Vanuatu, 30 June 2003, which was established to celebrate the 83-island archipelago's staus as a marine paradise. Customers buy special waterproof postcards available on land before diving three metres down to have their mail embossed with a waterproof stamp whilst being surrounded by coral and multicoloured fish. AFP PHOTO/Craig BERULDSEN (Photo credit should read CRAIG BERULDSEN/AFP/Getty Images)

Vanuatu Post’s Underwater Post Office, Republic of Vanuatu

A scuba diver staffs the world’s first underwater post office as a snorkeler uses the aquatic post box off the Coast of Hideaway Island in Vanuatu. The facility was established on June 30, 2003, to celebrate the 83-island archipelago’s status as a marine paradise. Customers buy special waterproof postcards available on land before diving 9 feet (three meters) down to have their mail embossed with a waterproof stamp while surrounded by coral and multicolored fish.

The world's highest post office stands near the base camp of Mount Everest, also known as Qomolangma, in the Tibet Autonomous Region April 29, 2008. The post office services around 30 customers a day, and is only open for seven months of the year between April and October.

China Post Office, Everest Base Camp, Nepal

The world’s highest post office stands near the base camp of Mount Everest, also known as Qomolangma, in the Tibet Autonomous Region. The post office services around 30 customers a day, and is only open for seven months, from April and October.

TOK01:SUSAMI,JAPAN,2MAY99 - A diver drops a postcard into an undersea mailbox off the coast of Susami, in the western Japanese prefecture of Wakayama April 28. The mailbox was installed at a depth of 10 metres April 23 as a part of a marine sports festival event and can be used to send mail. Divers can post a 150 yen (US$1.2) waterproof plastic postcard into the box and a local diving shop staff member picks up cards once a day as part of regular mail service.

Susami, Japan

Susami is a fishing town that holds the Guinness World Records for having the deepest underwater postbox — 33 feet(10 meters) below sea level. The mailbox was installed in 1999 as a part of a marine sports festival event and can be used to send mail. Divers can post a 150 yen ($1.20) waterproof plastic postcard into the box and a local diving shop staff member picks up cards once a day as part of regular mail service. (Pictured) A diver drops a postcard into an undersea mailbox off the coast of Susami, in the western Japanese prefecture of Wakayama, on April 28, 1999.

After mailing Christmas cards, customers leave the post office in Christmas, Fla., Monday, Dec. 17, 2007. Patrons come from all over to mail their holiday cards and packages in order to have the postmark, "Christmas, Fl." (AP Photo/John Raoux)

U.S. Post Office, Christmas, Florida, United States of America

Situated in a sleepy town outside of Orlando, this post office is famed for its postmark — “Christmas, Fl.” People from across the country flock to the post office to get their postcards stamped at this office.

The Republic of Molossia, the world's smallest sovereign republic, near Dayton, Nevada, America - Sep 2009 Republic of Molossia post office

The Republic of Molossia Post Office, Molossia micronation

This tiny post office connects the world’s smallest sovereign republic of Molossia, near Dayton, Nevada, to the world via its postal service. Molossia is a micronation with 12 members; Kevin Baugh is its founder and president.

Chinese scientists monitor the docking of the Tiangong-1 space lab module and the Shenzhou VIII spacecraft in space at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the northwestern province of Gansu on November 3, 2011. China took a crucial step towards fulfilling its ambition to set up a manned space station by completing its first successful docking high above Earth, state media reported. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)

China Post Space Office

On Nov. 3, 2011, to celebrate the docking of Shenzhou-8 unmanned spacecraft with space lab module Tiangong-1, China opened a virtual post office 213 miles (343 km) above the Earth’s surface. The post office will be able to deliver mail from the general public to astronauts on board space station Tiangong-1.

British Base and Post Office, Port Lockroy, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Polar Regions

British Base and Post Office, Port Lockroy, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

This remote post office is located at British Base A at Port Lockroy, in Antarctic Peninsula. The office receives around 70,000 cards from over 100 countries every year. The mail usually takes 2 to 6 weeks to arrive at the camp.

The famous Post Office Box. A tradition from the times of whalers and pirates, any letter put in the pos box will be picked up by any passing ship going into the right direction. Post Office Bay. Island of Floreana, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.

Post Office Bay, Island of Floreana, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

This most informal of post offices originated in the time of whalers and pirates. Post Office Bay serves as mail delivery point where ships heading home picks up mail and deliver it to their destinations, in Europe and the United States. The post office is located on Floreana Island, one of the islands of Galapagos Islands, and has been providing its services to travelers for the past 200 years.

Ochopee, Florida, United States, North America

Ochopee Post Office, Ochopee, FL

Located in Ochopee, an unincorporated community in Collier County with a population of fewer than 15 people, the post office has the distinction of being the smallest post office in the U.S. Measuring seven by eight feet, one person manages at the desk and makes deliveries in two to three counties daily.

Grand Cayman Islands

Post office in Hell, Grand Cayman Islands

Here’s a post office you can visit to prove you’ve been to Hell and back. Located at Hell, in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, visitors can send postcards stamped with “postcards from hell.”

courtesy msn.com