Exploring Austria's Surprising Square Kilometer Size

Austria is a mountainous country in Central Europe, with a total area of 83,871 square kilometres. The country measures almost 600km in length, with its westernmost third consisting of a narrow corridor between Germany and Italy. Austria's so-called areas of permanent settlement cover only 40% or 35,000km2 of the country, while forests occupy just over one-third of the productive area of Austria or 98,000 square kilometres.

Austria is 83,871 square km

Austria's so-called areas of permanent settlement cover only 40% or 35,000 km2 of the country. These are regions that are cultivated, continuously inhabited, and used for transportation, but do not include forests, Alpine pastures, or barren land. Forests occupy just over one-third of the productive area of Austria, or 98,000 square kilometres (38,000 square miles). As much as 85% of Austrian forests are dominated by tall timber, such as oak, pine, beech, ash, elm, and spruce.

Forests occupy 98,000 square km

Austria is a predominantly mountainous country in Central Europe, with a total area of 83,871 square kilometres. The country is pear-shaped, with the westernmost third consisting of a narrow corridor between Germany and Italy, and the rest of the country lying to the east with a maximum north-south width of 280 km.

Forests occupy just over one-third of the productive area of Austria, or 98,000 square kilometres. This is a significant portion of the country, and these forests are dominated by tall timber, such as oak, pine, beech, ash, elm, and spruce. These trees are important in the paper and pulp industry and in building construction. In fact, in 2000, about 17 million cubic meters of round wood was cut.

A comprehensive reforestation and conservation program has been in progress since the early 1950s to compensate for damage inflicted during World War II and for postwar over-cutting of forest trees. Economic development and the opening towards the EU market have also affected forestry in Austria.

Despite the large area of forests, only 40% or 35,000 square kilometres of Austria is considered areas of permanent settlement. These are regions that are cultivated, continuously inhabited, and used for transportation, but do not include forests, Alpine pastures, or barren land.

Austria is a mountainous country

Austria's landscape is dominated by the Alps, which make many areas of the country uninhabitable. Only 40% of the country, or 35,000 square kilometres, is considered an area of permanent settlement. These regions are cultivated, continuously inhabited, and used for transportation, but do not include forests, Alpine pastures, or barren land.

Forests occupy just over one-third of Austria's productive area, or 98,000 square kilometres. Tall timber, such as oak, pine, beech, ash, elm, and spruce, dominates 85% of Austrian forests. These forests are important for the paper and pulp industry and building construction. A comprehensive reforestation and conservation program has been in progress since the early 1950s to compensate for damage inflicted during World War II and postwar over-cutting of forest trees.

Austria shares national borders with Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Italy. Its total border length is 2,534 kilometres.

The Alps make many areas uninhabitable

Austria is a predominantly mountainous country in Central Europe, with a total area of 83,871 square kilometres (32,383 sq mi). The Alps, a mountain range in Central Europe, are responsible for major geographic phenomena. The Alpine crests isolate one European region from another and are the source of many of Europe's major rivers, such as the Rhône, Rhine, Po, and numerous tributaries of the Danube. The Alps have high habitat diversity, with 200 habitats classified throughout the mountain range. This mountain range is home to a high level of biodiversity. According to the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), there are over 4,500 species of plants, 200 bird species, 21 amphibian species, 15 reptile species, and 80 mammal species. Many of these species have made adaptations to the harsh cold conditions and high altitudes. The increase in temperatures and rainfalls and the melting of glaciers are changing the atmospheric conditions, the flora and the fauna of the Alps.

Austria is pear-shaped

Austria is a pear-shaped country in Central Europe, covering a total area of 83,871 square kilometres (32,383 sq mi). The westernmost third of the country is a narrow corridor between Germany and Italy, which is between 32 and 60 km (20 and 37 mi) wide. The rest of Austria lies to the east and has a maximum north-south width of 280 km (170 mi).

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