Biel
From the Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can change
| Biel/Bienne | |
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| Country | Switzerland |
| Canton | Berne |
| District | Biel/Bienne |
| Coordinates | 47°08′N 7°15′E |
| Population | 50295 (December 2004) |
| Area | 21.20 km² (8.19 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 434 m (1,424 ft) |
| Postal code | 2500-2510 |
| SFOS number | 0371 |
| Mayor | Hans Stöckli (Socialist) |
| Surrounded by | Brügg, Ipsach, Leubringen/Magglingen (Evilard/Macolin), Nidau, Orpund, Orvin, Pieterlen, Port, Safnern, Tüscherz-Alfermée, Vauffelin |
| Twin towns | Iserlohn (Germany) |
| Website | www.biel-bienne.ch |
  Biel/Bienne
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Biel (or Bienne) is an industrial town in Switzerland. It is in the part of Switzerland named Bern and near the city also named Bern. The town is known for many firms which make watches and machines.
[change] History
For many hundreds of years the town was run by another place named Basel. It tried to join with other cities in Switzerland. But it was not allowed to join the Swiss Confederation until 1815. Biel is home to a firm named Swatch which makes watches sold around the world. In 1998, Swatch announced that Biel would be the center of a new way of measuring time. Biel Mean Time was created as a way to advertise that Swatch was a modern firm with new ideas.
[change] Language
About 70% of the people in Biel speak German as their mother tongue. The remaining 30% speak French as their mother tongue. That is why the city has two names.
