Exploring Neighbors: Austria And Romania's Bordering Nations

Austria and Romania are two European countries with distinct geographical features and neighbours. Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. On the other hand, Romania is located in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, sharing borders with Ukraine, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, and the Black Sea.

Austria's neighbouring countries

Austria shares its borders with eight countries, including the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland. The country is landlocked and has no coastline.

• Czech Republic: The Czech Republic borders the northern and north-eastern regions of Austria. The two countries share a 466-kilometre-long border. The Czech Republic is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area.
• Germany: Germany shares a 784-kilometre-long border with Austria, making it the country's longest border. Germany is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area.
• Hungary: Hungary borders the eastern regions of Austria, with a border that stretches for 366 kilometres. Hungary is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area.
• Italy: Italy shares a 430-kilometre-long border with Austria, bordering the southern regions of the country. Italy is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area.
• Liechtenstein: Liechtenstein is a small country that borders the western regions of Austria. The two countries share a 35-kilometre-long border. Liechtenstein is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area.
• Slovakia: Slovakia borders the eastern and north-eastern regions of Austria, with a border that is 91-kilometres long. Slovakia is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area.
• Slovenia: Slovenia shares a 330-kilometre-long border with Austria, bordering the southern and south-eastern regions of the country. Slovenia is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area.
• Switzerland: Switzerland borders the western regions of Austria, with a 164-kilometre-long border. Switzerland is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area.

Romania's neighbouring countries

Romania is a unitary semi-presidential representative democratic republic located in Central-Southeastern Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the southeast, between Bulgaria and Ukraine. It also shares a maritime border with Turkey. Romania borders five other countries in addition to Ukraine and Bulgaria: Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, and the Republic of Moldova to the east. The country covers 238,391 square kilometres (92,043 sq mi) and has a predominantly temperate continental climate.

The Romania–Hungary border was established in 1920 by an international commission (the "Lord Commission") and was set by the Treaty of Trianon, which was signed on 4 June 1920. The border is 448 km (278 mi) long, demarcated by pillars and approximately 20 km (12 mi) of the Mureș/Maros River. The border has been stable since the end of World War II and is no longer officially in dispute between the countries.

Romania's border with Moldova is also known as the Moldovan–Romanian border. It is an internal border of the European Union and both countries are part of the Schengen Area. The border is 681.3 km (423.4 mi) long and was established after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the independence of Moldova in August 1991.

Romania's border with Serbia is known as the Serbian–Romanian border. The border is 476 km (296 mi) long and follows the course of the Danube River for 139 km (86 mi) from the Iron Gates to the Bulgaria–Romania–Serbia tripoint.

Austria's land borders

Austria shares land borders with eight countries: Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

Germany

Austria's border with Germany is 815 km long and is the country's longest border. This border is an internal border within the Schengen Area, meaning there are no permanent border controls, and people can cross freely between the two countries. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, some restrictions were put in place, and travellers were required to present proof of vaccination, recovery from COVID-19, or a negative test result when entering Austria from Germany.

The Czech Republic

Austria's border with the Czech Republic is 466 km long. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Austria implemented border controls and mandatory registration for travellers entering from the Czech Republic due to concerns about the spread of the virus.

Slovakia

Austria's border with Slovakia is 107 km long. In recent years, there have been discussions about the temporary reintroduction of border controls at this border due to concerns about illegal immigration and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hungary

Austria's border with Hungary is 366 km long. This border is an external border of the Schengen Area, as Hungary is not a member of the Schengen Area. During the migrant crisis, this border saw a significant influx of migrants, and Austria implemented border controls to manage the situation. In 2024, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria reached an agreement to strengthen border security and address migration issues, which led to the partial inclusion of Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen Area.

Slovenia

Austria's border with Slovenia is 330 km long. This border is an external border of the Schengen Area, as Slovenia is not a member of the Schengen Area.

Italy

Austria's border with Italy is 430 km long. This border is an external border of the Schengen Area, as Italy is not a member of the Schengen Area. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Austria imposed border controls and mandatory health declarations for travellers entering from Italy.

Switzerland

Austria's border with Switzerland is 164 km long. This border is an internal border within the Schengen Area, and people can usually cross freely. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Austria implemented border controls and mandatory registration for travellers entering from Switzerland.

Liechtenstein

Austria's border with Liechtenstein is 35 km long. This border is an external border of the Schengen Area, as Liechtenstein is not a member of the Schengen Area.

Romania's land borders

Romania shares land borders with Bulgaria, Hungary, Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine. It also shares a maritime border with Turkey.

Romania's borders have changed throughout history. The country's current borders were established after World War I, when the union of Romania with Transylvania, Bessarabia, and Bukovina was declared. The current borders were recognised by the international community in the Treaty of Trianon in 1920.

Romania's borders are not fenced, except for a small segment of the border with Serbia, which is fenced on the Serbian side.

Austria's and Romania's water borders

Austria and Romania are separated by a number of countries, so they do not share a land border. However, both countries have notable water borders with other countries.

Austria's Water Borders

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Italy. It has no coastline, but it does have several important water borders along its many rivers.

The Danube River is one of the most significant waterways in Europe, and it flows through Austria before emptying into the Black Sea. The Danube is the only major European river that flows eastward, and it serves as an important inland waterway. The Rhine-Main-Danube Canal, completed in 1992, connects the Danube to the Rhine and Main rivers, enabling barge traffic from the North Sea to the Black Sea.

Austria's water borders are also formed by several tributaries of the Danube River. These include the Inn, Salzach, and Enns rivers in the northern part of the country, as well as the Gail, Drau, Mürz, and Mur rivers in central and eastern Austria.

Romania's Water Borders

Romania, on the other hand, is located almost entirely within the Danube River Basin. The Romanian section of the Danube covers about a third of the river's total length and is crucial as it carries wastewater discharges from upstream countries into the Black Sea.

In addition to the Danube, Romania's water borders are also defined by its inland rivers and groundwater sources. These account for 36% and 12% of the country's total water resources, respectively.

Romania also shares a small stretch of its border with Hungary along the Mureș/Maros River, which is approximately 20 kilometres (12 miles) long.

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