Seeland (Switzerland)

It was not until 1783-84 that Johann Friedrich von Ryhiner's administrative compendium of the Bernese State presented the four counties as a united region.

The Bernese Seeland expanded in 1815 when the city of Biel/Bienne and the surrounding lands of the Prince-Bishop of Basel were given to the Canton of Bern.

The lake shore areas were occupied as far back as the Neolithic, such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site pile dwellings at Twann from about 3800 BC.

In contrast, the plains and the Grosses Moos swamp were crossed by meandering rivers like the Aare and Thielle which frequently flooded making the land hostile to settlements.

However, following the Jura water correction projects the bogs were drained and the formerly useless swamps became excellent farming land.

[2] The region is home to the Berne University of Applied Sciences (BFH), Department of Architecture, Wood and Civil Engineering in Biel/Bienne.