Mountains have served as a source of spiritual inspiration, a gathering place for cultural and recreational activities, and a means by which climbers can challenge their own physical limits. In celebration of these grand geological wonders and their surrounding ecosystems, the year 2002 has been named the International Year of Mountains as proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly. Canada Post commemorates the event with the issue of eight self-adhesive domestic rate ($0.48) stamps featuring summits located around the world: 1) Mount Logan in Canada; 2) Mount Elbrus in Europe; 3) Puncak Jaya in Oceania; 4) Mount Everest in Asia; 5) Kilimanjaro in Africa; 6) Vinson Massif in Antarctica; 7) Aconcagua in South America; 8) Mount McKinley in North America. This special stamp set also pays tribute to two accomplished Canadians; explorer Bernard Voyer, who has been sponsored by Canada Post to undertake expeditions to Vinson Massif, Mount McKinley and Mount Logan, and explorer, climber and photographer Pat Morrow, who was the first man to climb all of the Seven Summits. This feat made it into the Guinness Book of World Records.

Mount Logan
Located in Kluane National Park in southwest Yukon, Mount Logan is Canada's tallest peak, reaching a height of 5,959 metres. This majestic peak is part of the Saint Elias Mountain Range, which straddles the Yukon/Alaska border. Mount Logan is mostly snow-covered and physically very similar to the Himalayan Mountains.

Mount Elbrus
Reaching an altitude of 5,633 metres, Europe's Mount Elbrus is volcanic in origin, and is formed by cliffs, sheer peaks, tapered arêtes, and gigantic glaciers. This grandiose beauty is located in the Russian Federation and is part of the Caucasus Mountain Range, which stretches 1,300 kilometres through Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Puncak Jaya
Although Puncak Jaya belongs to Indonesia, it's located in western New Guinea, in the province of Irian Jaya. At 4,884 metres, Puncak Jaya is Oceania's highest peak, characterized by very steep cliffs, a tapered arête, and dangerous rock needles. Fog, melting snow, and constant thunderstorms make expeditions especially perilous, and swampy, boggy, wet territory around the base of the mountain makes the approach arduous.

Mount Everest
At 8,850 metres, Mount Everest is the world's tallest summit. This famous mountain straddles the China/Nepal border and is often referred to as 'the roof of the world' or the 'summit of summits.' Its other names include Sagarmatha, 'Mother of the Universe,' in Nepali, and Chomolangma, 'Goddess Mother of the Snows,' in Tibetan.

Kilimanjaro
Towering over Africa with a height of 5,894 metres, Kilimanjaro is located in northeastern Tanzania. Its mass and height have a major effect on the climate of the surrounding area, and the wildlife and vegetation therein. Eternally snow-capped, this grand mountain is formed by three extinct volcanoes.

Vinson Massif
Vinson Massif reaches a height of 4,897 metres and is located on the isthmus of the Sentinel Range in the Antarctic. Formed by black and striated arêtes, and large ice walls up to an altitude of 3,000 metres, it challenges climbers with numerous crevasses, seracs, avalanches and violent winds.

Aconcagua
Also known as 'The Stone Sentinel,' Aconcagua towers among the Andes Mountains at 6,962 metres. It's located in the province of Mendoza in Argentina, 12 kilometres from the Chilean border, and its southern face is considered one of the largest mountain faces in the world.

Mount McKinley
At a height of 6,194 metres, Mount McKinley is North America's highest summit. It lies in the heart of the Alaska Range, and is flanked by five massive glaciers and numerous ice cascades. Mount McKinley towers above the horizon and is famous for its ever-changing and unpredictable weather conditions.

A Designer's Point of View
Q30 Design Inc. of Toronto set out to create the Mountain stamps while increasing awareness of the global importance of the mountain ecosystems and celebrating the beauty of summit regions around the world. This goal was achieved through the use of a unique circular format, custom die-cuts, and an information-rich presentation, which appeals to audiences of all ages, especially the young collector. Over the past 10 years, Q30 has designed 28 stamps for Canada Post, including the History of Housing in Canada, High Technology, Ocean Fish, and the Holocaust.