Anzin

History

Anzin was once the centre of important coal mines of the Valenciennes basin belonging to the Anzin Company, the formation of which dates to 1717. The commune's first coal layer of the area in 1734. The company of the mines of Anzin (Compagnie des mines d'Anzin) was created in 1757. In 1884 these mines were visited by Émile Zola, who based his novel Germinal upon his observations. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the metallurgical industries of the place were extensive, and included iron and copper founding and the manufacture of steam-engines, machinery, chain-cables and a great variety of heavy iron goods. There were also glass-works and breweries.

Most-observed species

• Ring-necked Pheasant

  Phasianus colchicus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,612
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,576
• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,478
• Common Chaffinch

  Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,361
• Eurasian Blue Tit

  Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,331
• European Robin

  Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,310
• Egyptian Goose

  Alopochen aegyptiaca (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  1,088
• Common Pipistrelle

  Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Schreber, 1774) · Mammalia
  1,063

Most recent

• M 2.8 — 2008-12-20
  1 km WSW of Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
• M 3.3 — 2008-09-13
  3 km SSE of Florennes, Belgium
• M 2.8 — 2008-09-12
  1 km NNW of Court-Saint-Étienne, Belgium
• M 2.7 — 2008-08-09
  1 km SW of Ottignies, Belgium
• M 2.6 — 2008-08-09
  0 km NW of Ottignies, Belgium
• M 2.5 — 2008-08-08
  1 km SSW of Ottignies, Belgium