Exploring Austria's Alpine Coverage: Extent And Impact

The Austrian Alps are a defining feature of the country, covering 60-62% of the nation's land. The Alpine ranges make many areas of Austria uninhabitable, with only 40% of the country considered an area of permanent settlement. The majority of the population live in the country's lowlands or hilly regions north, east and south of the Alps.

The Alps cover 62% of Austria

Austria's 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. The majority of the area of permanent settlement 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.

About 10% of the entire nation is either extreme alpine terrain or beyond the tree line and is therefore unsuitable for agriculture. Forests cover another 40% of Austria.

40% of Austria is covered by forests

The Alps cover 60-62% of Austria, with the remaining area divided into the Alpine Foreland and the Austrian part of the Pannonian Plain (28%) and the area north of the Danube (10%)%. The country's areas of permanent settlement, which do not include forests, Alpine pastures, or barren land, cover only 40% of the country. Forests cover another 40% of Austria.

The majority of Austria's population live in river valleys

The Alps cover 60-62% of Austria's total area, with the Alpine Foreland and the Austrian part of the Pannonian Plain making up around 28% of the country. The remaining 10% of Austria is north of the Danube and is derived from a granite mountain range.

The Alps make many areas of Austria uninhabitable, with only 40% of the country (35,000 km2) being classed as an area of permanent settlement. The majority of the population live in the Danube valley and the lowlands or hilly regions north, east, and south of the Alps. 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.

The Semmering Pass connects Vienna with the Mürz and Mur valleys and is an important transit route for both domestic and international traffic. The Pyrhn Pass, Tauern Pass, and Brenner Pass also cut through the Alps along a north-south axis and are followed by major highways.

The Semmering Pass connects Vienna with the Mürz and Mur valleys

The Alps cover 60-62% of Austria, making many areas of the country uninhabitable. The Semmering Pass is one of the most important passes in the country, connecting Vienna with the Mürz and Mur valleys to the south. The pass cuts through the Alps along a north-south axis, providing access to the south of the country. It is a major transit route for both domestic and international traffic.

The Semmering Pass is one of four major passes that cross the Alps in Austria. The others are the Pyrhn Pass between Upper Austria and Styria, the Tauern Pass in Salzburg, and the Brenner Pass in Tyrol. All four passes are followed by major highways, making them vital transport links.

The majority of Austria's population lives in the country's predominantly Alpine provinces, in river valleys such as Bregenz on Lake Constance in Vorarlberg, Innsbruck on the river Inn in Tyrol, Salzburg on the river Salzach, and Klagenfurt on the Wörthersee lake in Carinthia. Two-thirds of the population live in the Danube valley and the lowlands or hilly regions north, east, and south of the Alps.

The Alpine Foreland and the Austrian part of the Pannonian Plain make up around 28% of the country, including some smoothly hilly areas. The remaining 10% of Austria is north of the Danube ("Böhmerwald"), stretching towards the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This area is derived from a granite mountain range.

The Tauern Pass is in Salzburg

The Tauern Pass is a high mountain pass in the Austrian state of Salzburg. At an elevation of 1,740m (5,708ft) above sea level, the pass is named after the town of Radstadt im Ennstal. The Tauern Pass is one of the most important passes in the country, cutting through the Alps along a north-south axis and providing an important transit route for both domestic and international traffic. The road to the summit is paved and wide, and the pass is 38.5km (23.92 miles) long, running south-north from Mauterndorf to Radstadt. The Tauern Pass was already in use in pre-Roman times, when the Taurisci built a road over it, and the first road through the pass was completed by the Roman Emperor Claudius 2,000 years ago.

The Tauern Pass is located in the Radstädter Tauern mountains, which are part of the wider Austrian Alps. The Alps cover 62% of Austria's total area, with the Tauern Pass being one of the most important routes through this mountainous region. The Alps make many areas of Austria uninhabitable, with only 40% of the country considered areas of permanent settlement. Most of the population of the predominantly Alpine provinces live in river valleys, such as Innsbruck on the river Inn in Tyrol, and Salzburg on the river Salzach.

The Tauern Pass is home to the Obertauern ski resort, which is a popular tourist destination located in the Radstädter Tauern in the Salzburger Land of Austria. The village of Obertauern is situated at heights of between 1,630 and 2,526 metres above sea level, and is known for its skiing and snowboarding. The ski region has around 100 kilometres of prepared pistes and 26 lifts that can transport 48,000-49,000 people per hour. At the top of the pass is the Cemetery of the Unknown, which is named after the travellers who lost their lives crossing the pass and could not be identified.

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