Austria's Northern Neighbors: Who Are They?

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, sharing borders with eight other countries. To the north, it borders Germany and the Czech Republic. In this paragraph, we will explore the countries that border Austria and discuss the unique geographical features of this region.

Germany shares an 801km border with Austria

Germany shares an 801km (497-498mi) border with Austria to the north. This border is Germany's longest, and it is also the longest border for Austria. The boundary runs from east to west, from a tripoint with Switzerland in the west to where the two countries meet with the Czech Republic near the village of Schwarzenberg-am-Bohmerwald in the east.

The border between Germany and Austria separates the German state of Bavaria from the Austrian states of Upper Austria, Salzburg, and Tyrol. One of the border crossings between the two countries is the Ammer Saddle, a mountain pass in the Alps between Bavaria and Tyrol.

Bavaria in Germany and Tyrol in Austria are marked by signs indicating the boundary between the two countries.

The Czech Republic shares a 402km border with Austria

The Czech Republic shares a 402km (249-251 mile) border with Austria to its south. The border between the two countries was established in 1918, following the end of World War I, the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the creation of Czechoslovakia.

The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It has a hilly landscape and covers an area of 78,866 square kilometres. The country is bordered by Germany to the west, Austria to the south, Slovakia to the east, and Poland to the northeast.

Austria, meanwhile, is a predominantly mountainous country in Central Europe, with 68% of the country sitting over 1,640 ft above sea level. It is surrounded by Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, Italy, Hungary, Slovakia, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland.

The Austria-Czech Republic border is considered one of the internal boundaries of the European Union as both nations are member states. The border is marked by the rivers Inn and Morava. Many towns lie on the border, including Ceske Velenice, Mikulov, Drasenhofen in the Czech Republic, and Gmund and Breclavin in Austria.

Austria's northern border with Slovakia is 105km long

Austria is a landlocked country in south-central Europe. It is bordered by Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west, Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the northeast, Slovenia to the south, and Italy to the southwest. Austria's northern border with Slovakia is 105km (65mi) long according to one source, 91km long according to another, and 106.7km long according to a third.

Austria's border with Slovakia was first established in 1919 after Czechoslovakia declared independence. In 1939, Germany invaded the region, dividing it into several protectorates and making subtle modifications to the borders in Austria's favour. After the Second World War, the previous demarcation was re-established (with the exception of part of Bratislava). During the Cold War, this border was part of the Iron Curtain. When Czechoslovakia was partitioned in 1993, creating the independent state of Slovakia, the border remained unchanged.

The border between Austria and Slovakia is crossed by two railway lines, two motorways, a ferry, and several roads. The only motorway crossing is at Kittsee (Austria) and Jarovce (Slovakia). The border can be crossed without checks in most cases, but there are exceptions, such as international sporting events, major political events, and occasions concerning the internal security of the countries. Since the refugee crisis of 2015-16, Austria has increased controls at the Slovak border. As of October 2023, there may be waiting times at the border crossing.

The border region is economically and politically important. The capitals of the two countries, Vienna and Bratislava, are only 60km apart, and the short distance between them has played a significant role in cross-border cooperation. Since Slovakia joined the Schengen Area in 2007, economic cooperation has strengthened. However, the border regions of the two countries are not equally developed, with Slovakia's being the most developed in the country, while Austria's is more rural. This disparity presents a challenge for cross-border cooperation, as the aim is to increase the economic competitiveness of the region without increasing disparities in growth rates on either side.

Liechtenstein borders Austria to the north and east

Liechtenstein, a doubly landlocked country, shares a 21-mile border with Austria to the north and east. It is one of the smallest nations in Europe, covering an area of about 62 square miles and home to roughly 40,000 people.

Liechtenstein is bordered by Switzerland in the south and west and Austria in the east and north. The country is nestled in the Central European Alps, with its highest point being the Grauspitz at 8,527 feet. The Rhine Valley covers half of the country and is its most populous and arable area, while the rest of Liechtenstein consists of rougher Alpine terrain.

The country's climate is relatively mild due to the southerly winds, despite its location in the Alps. The warm southerly wind, known as foehn, has a significant impact on the climate, making it ideal for growing grapes and corn, which is unusual for a mountainous region. The average temperature in the summer ranges from the high 60s to the low 80s Fahrenheit, and in the winter, temperatures rarely drop below 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

Liechtenstein is a constitutional monarchy with a unique political system that combines elements of absolute monarchy, representative democracy, and direct democracy. The monarch, currently Hans-Adam II, holds extensive powers and plays an active role in the country's politics and governance. The country has a strong financial sector and is known for its winter sports due to its mountainous terrain.

Austria's northern border is west of the Czech Republic's border with Poland

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of over 8.8 million people. It is surrounded by Liechtenstein, Slovenia, Italy, Hungary, Slovakia, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland.

Austria's northern border is shared with Germany and the Czech Republic. Germany's border with Austria is the longest for both countries, at 497 miles (801 km). The boundary runs from east to west, with the western point at the border tripoint of Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, and the eastern end at the point where the two countries meet the Czech Republic near the Schwarzenberg-am-Bohmerwald village.

The Czech Republic shares a 249-mile (402 km) border with Austria. Some of the towns on the border include Ceske Velenice, Mikulov, and Drasenhofen in the Czech Republic, and Gmund and Breclavin in Austria.

To the north of the Czech Republic lies Poland. Therefore, Austria's northern border is west of the Czech Republic's border with Poland.

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