Area codes 069 Local time Saturday 11:46 PM Province Hainaut Governing party Parti Socialiste | Postal codes 7320-7322 Website www.bernissart.be Area code 069 | |
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Weather 7°C, Wind S at 18 km/h, 89% Humidity | ||
Bernissart is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006, Bernissart had a total population of 11,458. The total area is 43.42 km², which gives a population density of 264 inhabitants per km². The municipality includes the village of Blaton, formerly an independent municipality.
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Map of Bernissart, Belgium
The Iguanodon mine
In 1878, dozens of Iguanodon skeletons were discovered in a coal mine, 322 m (1,050 ft) below the ground. At the time, their proximity was considered proof that some dinosaurs were herd animals. They were mounted by Louis Dollo and set the standard that was followed for over a century. Nine of the twenty-nine skeletons are currently on display at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, and one at the Bernissart Museum. The two museums even made an error they acknowledge with humour : they displayed the skeletons "standing", suggesting that the dinosaurs were bidepal, which is not the case.