Biel

Biel (or Bienne) is located at the head of the lake that shares its name, on the north side of the outflowing Zihl (Thielle or Thièle) River¹, and at the foot of the Jura Mountains. It has a metropolitan population of 90 thousand, 50 thousand of which live in the city.² Within the municipality is the remains of a settlement archeologists called Vingelz/ Hafen, used 3000 to 2500 BCE and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site for Prehistoric Pile Dwellings Around the Alps.³ Perhaps the tallest buildings is the Kongresshaus Biel.⁴

External references

cityscape of Biel (Bienne), Helvetia (Schweiz, la Suisse or Switzerland)

Footnotes

1. The majority of the outflow flows out through the artificial Nidau-Büren Aare Canal, which exits the lake just a little south of the city proper. Since the Aare is diverted into the lake through the Jura Water Connection, this outflow also handles most of the Aare's flow. The original course of the Zihl flowed into the original course of the Aare in a formerly swampy area near Büren. The remnant of the original course flows into the canal east of Biel's center. The Aare flows into the Rhein (Rhin or Rhine).
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_in_Switzerland, 2012 figure, accessed 9/13/2013.
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prehistoric_Pile_dwellings_around_the_Alps, accessed 11/19/2013.
4. It is the tallest building listed for Biel in emporis.com, accessed 11/22/2013. It serves as city hall and for commercial offices.