Exploring Austria's Breadth: Miles Of Adventure And Beauty

Austria is a federal state comprised of nine provinces, each with its own capital. The country covers an area of 83,878 square kilometres and has a population of 9,159,993 residents. The Alps make many areas of Austria uninhabitable, with only 40% of the country's land area considered 'areas of permanent settlement'. In this paragraph, we will explore the question: how many miles across is Austria?

Austria's length and width

Austria is a federal state comprised of nine provinces, each with its own capital. The country covers an area of 83,878 square kilometres and has a population of 9,159,993 residents (as of 1 January 2024).

Austria's principal river is the Danube, the second-longest river in Europe, which flows for 350 kilometres (217 miles) within Austria's borders. Three of Austria's other major rivers—the Inn, Salzach, and Enns—are tributaries of the Danube that flow eastward through the central part of the country. The country also has many lakes in its mountain valleys, including the Neusiedler See, which is over 32 kilometres (20 miles) long and about 8 kilometres (5 miles) wide.

The great majority of the area of permanent settlement in Austria is in the Danube valley and the lowlands or hilly regions north, east, and south of the Alps, where approximately two-thirds of the population lives. In the country's predominantly Alpine provinces, most of the population live in river valleys: Bregenz on the shores of Lake Constance in Vorarlberg; Innsbruck on the river Inn in Tyrol; Salzburg on the river Salzach in Salzburg; and Klagenfurt on the Wörthersee lake in Carinthia.

Austria is bordered by Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy. It is located 2,947.99 miles (4,744.32 kilometres) south of the North Pole, 3,270.42 miles (5,263.23 kilometres) north of the equator, and 9,489.50 miles (15,271.87 kilometres) north of the South Pole.

Austria's lakes

Austria covers an area of 83,878 square kilometres and is bordered by Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy. The country is known for its picturesque landscapes and stunning bodies of water.

Austria has many lakes, most of which are set against the backdrop of the snow-capped Alps. The lakes are popular with tourists and locals alike, offering a range of activities such as swimming, diving, windsurfing, rafting, kite surfing, and paddle surfing. The lakes are also a great place to enjoy the scenery, with some of the cleanest, bluest waters in Europe.

The largest lake that Austria does not share with another country is the Neusiedler See, which is over 32 kilometres (20 miles) long and about 8 kilometres (5 miles) wide. At the northwestern tip of Austria is a small part of Lake Constance (also known as the Bodensee), which is one of the largest lakes in Western Europe. Lake Constance lies along the course of the Rhine River, where Austria, Switzerland, and Germany meet.

Other notable lakes in Austria include Achensee, often referred to as "Tyrol's ocean" because of its massive size and "Fjord of the Alps" for its high water quality. The water in Achensee is excellent for swimming, with visibility up to 10 meters deep, and the thermal winds over the lake make it ideal for windsurfing and kitesurfing. Lake Plansee in the Tyrol region is another large body of water, connected to the Heiterwang lake via a canal.

In the country's predominantly Alpine provinces, most of the population lives in river valleys near lakes. These include Bregenz on the shores of Lake Constance in Vorarlberg, Innsbruck on the river Inn in Tyrol, Salzburg on the river Salzach in Salzburg, and Klagenfurt on the Wörthersee lake in Carinthia.

Austria's population

Austria covers an area of 83,878 square kilometres (or 31,818 square miles) and has a population of 9,115,773 as of March 2025. The population density is 111 per square kilometre (286 people per square mile). The population is growing almost exclusively through immigration, with the number of people migrating to Austria exceeding the number emigrating from the country every year. In 2023, an average of 2.4 million people with a migration background lived in Austria, making up 26.7% of the entire population.

Austria is a federal state made up of nine provinces, each with its own capital. The majority of the population lives in the Danube valley and the lowlands or hilly regions north, east and south of the Alps. The country's principal river is the Danube, which flows for 350 kilometres (217 miles) within Austria's borders. The largest lake that Austria does not share with another country is the Neusiedler See, which is over 32 kilometres (20 miles) long and about 8 kilometres (5 miles) wide.

Austria's neighbours

Austria covers an area of 83,878 square kilometres. The country is bordered by Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, and Poland. The majority of the population lives in the Danube valley and the lowlands or hilly regions north, east, and south of the Alps. The largest lake that Austria does not share with another country is the Neusiedler See, which is over 32 kilometres (20 miles) long and about 8 kilometres (5 miles) wide. At the opposite end of Austria, at its furthest northwestern tip, is a small part of Lake Constance (also known as the Bodensee), which lies along the course of the Rhine River, where Austria, Switzerland, and Germany meet.

Austria's highest point

Austria covers an area of 83,878 square kilometres, with a population of 9,159,993 residents. The country is bordered by Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy.

The Grossglockner mountain is part of the larger Glockner Group of the Hohe Tauern range, situated along the main ridge of the Central Eastern Alps and the Alpine divide. The Pasterze, Austria's most extended glacier, lies on the Grossglockner's eastern slope. The mountain's characteristic pyramid-shaped peak consists of two pinnacles, the Grossglockner and the Kleinglockner, which are separated by the Glocknerscharte col.

The Grossglockner is one of three high peaks in Austria, along with the Wildspitze and Grossvenediger. Climbing these three peaks is a unique mountaineering experience, offering the chance to traverse a glacier and take in the best alpine areas of the country, such as Tirol, Salzburg and Carinthia.

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