Schauplatz Natur – Birds, Mammals & Minerals of Switzerland

Description

The exhibition highlights native birds, mammals, and minerals. The appearance of birds and mammals reveals much about how they move, hunt, and feed. Two habitats, the city and the Alps, exemplify how animals manage in a constantly changing environment. Among the approximately 700 minerals found in Switzerland, we present the most spectacular and beautiful of them. Birds and mammals possess a wide variety of features that perfectly match their way of life. For example, what is the performance of their eyes or ears? What type of locomotion are their legs and feet adapted for? Does fur protect them from the cold, or does camouflage clothing shield them from their enemies? In several areas, different parts of the animals' bodies are examined more closely. It becomes clear that their physical appearance reveals much about how mammals and birds move, hunt, and feed. On the upper floor of the exhibition, we show, using the example of the city and the Alps, how animals adapt to their habitat. The lifestyle of animals in the constantly evolving environment of the city is just as astonishing and surprising as that adopted by animals to survive in the extreme weather conditions of the Alps. They shine, have perfect shapes, and come in all sorts of colors - it is hard to believe that these noble minerals grow in dark, narrow cavities inside the mountains. It is generally in the cracks that they freely form their magnificent crystalline shapes. During a tour of Switzerland, we present about 200 precious objects from the museum's mineral collection and explain in which region of Switzerland the different minerals are found. We also reveal which minerals can be used as raw materials.

Highlights

• Explore native birds, mammals, and minerals of Switzerland
• Discover adaptations in city and alpine habitats
• Over 700 spectacular minerals on display

General Information

The exhibition at the Naturhistorisches Museum Basel showcases the diverse wildlife and mineralogy of Switzerland. Visitors can learn about the adaptations of birds and mammals in different environments, as well as view a stunning collection of minerals found throughout the country.

Location

Augustinergasse 2, 4051 Basel, Switzerland

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