Austria's Geography: Understanding Its Regional Classification

Austria is a federal republic consisting of nine federal states, or provinces, and is a predominantly mountainous country in Central Europe. It shares borders with Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy. The Alps make many areas of Austria uninhabitable, with only 40% of the country considered to be areas of permanent settlement.

Austria is a federal republic consisting of nine federal states

Austria is a predominantly mountainous country in Central Europe, located between Germany, Italy and Hungary. It has a total area of 83,871 square kilometres (32,383 sq mi). The Alps make many areas of Austria uninhabitable, with only 40% of the country being considered areas of permanent settlement. The majority of these areas are in the Danube Valley and the lowlands or hilly regions north, east and south of the Alps.

Austria shares national borders with Switzerland, the principality of Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy. The country is divided into the Northern Alpine Foreland, the lowlands and hilly regions in northeastern and eastern Austria, and the Southeastern Alpine Foreland. The parts of Austria that are most suitable for settlement run north of the Alps through the provinces of Upper Austria and Lower Austria in the Danube Valley, and then curve east and south of the Alps through Lower Austria, Vienna, Burgenland, and Styria.

The area that is now Austria was settled in pre-Roman times by various Celtic tribes

Austria is a federal republic consisting of nine federal states, which are further subdivided into districts and statutory cities. It is a predominantly mountainous country in Central Europe, with a total area of 83,871 square kilometres.

Austria is a mountainous country in Central Europe

Austria shares national borders with Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Italy. The area that is now Austria was settled in pre-Roman times by various Celtic tribes, and the Celtic Kingdom of Noricum, which included most of modern Austria and parts of modern Slovenia, was conquered by the Roman Empire in 16 BC and made into a province called Noricum. The regions of today's Austria that were not located within the province of Noricum were divided between the Roman provinces of Pannonia, which encompassed parts of eastern Austria, and Raetia, which encompassed the areas of present-day Vorarlberg and Tyrol.

Austria's so-called areas of permanent settlement cover only 40% of the country

Austria is a federal republic consisting of nine federal states, which are sub-divided into districts and statutory cities. Vienna is unique in that it is both a city and a federal state. The country is located in Central Europe, between Germany, Italy and Hungary, and shares borders with Switzerland, Liechtenstein, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Italy.

Austria is a largely mountainous country, with the Alps making many areas uninhabitable. The country's so-called areas of permanent settlement – regions that are cultivated, continuously inhabited, and used for transportation – cover only 40% of the country. The majority of these areas are 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.

The parts of Austria that are most suitable for settlement run north of the Alps through the provinces of Upper Austria and Lower Austria in the Danube Valley, and then curve east and south of the Alps through Lower Austria, Vienna, Burgenland, and Styria. 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 area that is now Austria was settled in pre-Roman times by various Celtic tribes, and was the core of the Hallstatt culture by the 6th century BC. The Celtic Kingdom of Noricum, which included most of modern Austria and parts of modern Slovenia, was conquered by the Roman Empire in 16 BC and made into a province called Noricum. The regions of today's Austria that were not located within Noricum were divided between the Roman provinces of Pannonia, which encompassed parts of eastern Austria, and Raetia, which encompassed the areas of present-day Vorarlberg and Tyrol.

Austria shares national borders with Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy

Austria is a federal republic consisting of nine federal states, or provinces, and is located in Central Europe. It shares national borders with Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy. The country is largely mountainous, with the Alps making up a large part of its terrain. The Central Eastern Alps, Northern Limestone Alps, and Southern Limestone Alps are all partly in Austria. The country's capital, Vienna, is unique in that it is both a city and a federal state.

Austria's landscape is predominantly hilly or flat in the Northern Alpine Foreland, which includes the Danube Valley. The lowlands and hilly regions in northeastern and eastern Austria include the Danube Basin. The rolling hills and lowlands of the Southeastern Alpine Foreland are also worth noting. The parts of Austria that are most suitable for settlement run north of the Alps through the provinces of Upper Austria and Lower Austria in the Danube Valley, then curve east and south of the Alps through Lower Austria, Vienna, Burgenland, and Styria.

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 people 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; and Klagenfurt on the Wörthersee lake in Carinthia.

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