Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOP SIGHT
MUSEUM FÜR NATURKUNDE
Fossils and minerals don't quicken your pulse? Well, how about a 12m-high bra-
chiosaurus, the Guinness Book-certified world's largest mounted dino? Nicknamed
Oskar, the gentle giant is joined by a dozen Jurassic buddies including the ferocious
allosaurus and a spiny-backed kentrosaurus, all about 150 million years old and from
Tanzania. Clever 'Juraskopes' bring half a dozen of them back to virtual flesh-and-
bone life. The same hall also houses an ultrarare fossilised archaeopteryx.
Beyond the dinosaurs you can journey deep into space or clear up such age-old
mysteries as why zebras are striped and why peacocks have such beautiful feathers.
Surprises include massively magnified insect models - wait until you see the mind-
boggling anatomy of an ordinary house fly! A newish highlight is the wet collection:
276,000 glass jars containing over one million ethanol-preserved animals displayed in
a huge glowing glass cube in its own darkened hall.
A crowd favourite among the taxidermied animals is Bobby, the gorilla, although he
may soon be eclipsed by the late polar bear celebrity Knut.
