Lyla Lindsey
Austria, officially the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, covering an area of 83,879 square kilometres (32,386 square miles) and home to a population of around 9 million people. The country is bordered by Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. The landscape is predominantly mountainous, with the Alps being the most notable mountain range, covering 62% of the country. The highest mountain in Austria is Großglockner, standing at 3,797 meters.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 9,170,647 (April 2024) |
| Area | 83,879 km2 or 32,386 sq mi |
| Size compared to the UK | 34.43% of the size of the UK |
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![13x19 Austria General Reference Wall Map [Rolled]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/A1SVn0X7g9L._AC_UL320_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
Austria's land area is 83,879 km2 (32,386 sq mi)
Austria, officially the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is a federation of nine states, with a land area of 83,879 km2 (32,386 sq mi). To put that into perspective, the country is approximately 2,534 km (1,574 mi) long if you trace its borders.
Austria is bordered by several countries: Germany to the northwest, the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the northeast, Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The country's landscape is predominantly mountainous, with the Alps being the most prominent feature. The Alps cover 62% of the country, with the remaining 28% being moderately hilly or flat. The Northern Calcareous Alps, Central Alps, and Southern Calcareous Alps are the three major Alpine ranges that run west to east through Austria. The Central Alps are the largest and highest range in the country, with the highest peak, Großglockner, reaching 3,797 meters (12,457 feet).
The parts of Austria that are most suitable for settlement are the provinces of Upper Austria and Lower Austria in the Danube Valley, as well as areas south of the Alps, including Lower Austria, Vienna, Burgenland, and Styria. The Danube River, which flows through Austria, is an important inland waterway, connecting the North Sea to the Black Sea.
Austria has a population of around 9 million people, with the capital city of Vienna being the most populous, with over 2 million inhabitants. The country has a high standard of living and is one of the wealthiest in the world, with a nominal per capita GDP of $46,972 (as of 2018 estimates).
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The country is landlocked and mountainous
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, occupying an area of 83,879 square kilometres (32,386 square miles). It is predominantly mountainous, with just over 28% of the country being moderately hilly or flat. The largest part of Austria (62%) is occupied by the relatively young mountains of the Alps, which cast a long shadow over the country's other geographical features. Three major ranges of the Alps run west to east through the country: the Northern Calcareous Alps, the Central Alps, and the Southern Calcareous Alps. The Central Alps, which consist largely of a granite base, are the largest and highest ranges in Austria, running from Tyrol to the Styria-Lower Austria border. The Northern Calcareous Alps, running from Vorarlberg through Tyrol into Salzburg and then through Upper Austria and Lower Austria toward Vienna, are predominantly limestone and dolomite. The Southern Calcareous Alps, on the Carinthia-Slovenia border, share a similar geological makeup.
The parts of Austria that are most suitable for settlement—that is, arable and climatically favourable—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 granite massif of the Bohemian Forest, a low mountain range with bare and windswept plateaus and a harsh climate, lies north of the river Danube. The Danube has its source near Donaueschingen in southwestern Germany and flows through Austria before emptying into the Black Sea. It is the only major European river that flows eastwards.
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The Alps occupy 62% of Austria
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, occupying an area of 83,879 square kilometres (32,386 square miles) or 83,871 square kilometres (32,383 square miles). It is a federation of nine states, with a population of around 9 million people. The capital, Vienna, is located in the northeastern part of the country and is the most populous city, with over 2 million inhabitants.
The diverse landscape of Austria is influenced by the presence of the Alps, with important transit passes and roads running through them. The Semmering Pass, for example, connects the Vienna Basin with the Mürz and Mur valleys, providing access to Styria, Slovenia, and Italy. The major rivers north of the watershed of the Austrian Alps, such as the Inn, the Salzach, and the Enns, are direct tributaries of the Danube and flow north into the Danube Valley. In contrast, the rivers south of the watershed, such as the Gail and Drau, flow into the drainage system of the Drau River, which eventually empties into the Danube in Serbia.
The Alps have a rich history and cultural significance in Austria, dating back to the Palaeolithic era. Traditional practices such as farming, cheesemaking, and woodworking have thrived in Alpine villages for centuries. The mountainous terrain and steep, rocky topography have shaped the way of life in these regions, including grazing and pasture land management. The discovery of "Ötzi", a 5,000-year-old mummified man on a glacier in the Austrian-Italian Alps, highlights the long history of human habitation in the region.
The Alps have also played a significant role in Austria's tourism industry, which began to grow in the early 20th century and expanded significantly after World War II. The Winter Olympic Games have been hosted in the Austrian Alps, attracting visitors from all over the world. The combination of breathtaking landscapes, traditional villages, and outdoor activities makes the Austrian Alps a popular destination for travellers seeking natural beauty and cultural experiences.
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The Bohemian Forest is an older granite mountain range
Austria, officially the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It has an area of 83,879 square kilometres (32,386 sq mi) and a population of around 9 million. The country is bordered by Germany to the northwest, the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the northeast, Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west.
The Bohemian Forest, known as Šumava in Czech and Böhmerwald in German, is a low mountain range in Central Europe. The mountains extend from the Plzeň Region and the South Bohemian Region in the Czech Republic to Austria and Bavaria in Germany. The Bohemian Forest forms a natural border between the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany. The Bohemian Forest comprises heavily forested mountains with average heights of 800–1,400 metres. The range is one of the oldest in Europe, with mountains eroded into round forms with few rocky parts. The Bohemian Forest is the dividing range between the watersheds of the Black Sea and the North Sea, where water collected by the Vltava, Otava, and Úhlava rivers flows.
Geologically, the Bohemian Forest is part of the Bohemian Massif, a large massif that stretches over most of the Czech Republic, eastern Germany, southern Poland, and northern Austria. The Bohemian Massif is a geomorphological province within the Hercynian Forest subsystem. It consists of crystalline rocks that are older than the Permian (more than 300 million years old) and were deformed during the Variscan Orogeny. This phase of mountain-building occurred when the Rheic Ocean closed due to the collision of the paleocontinents Gondwana and Laurussia, resulting in the supercontinent Pangaea.
The Bohemian Forest has a complicated history due to its border region status. In the 20th century, it was part of the Iron Curtain, and human settlements were removed. Even before that, the area was sparsely populated, with forests dominating over human dwellings and pathways. The Bohemian Forest area was not significantly populated during the Paleolithic era (the Stone Age), and initial settlements of a more permanent nature appeared in the Bronze Age. In the 13th century, Bavarian settlers cleared parts of the forest and founded settlements, leading to cultural influences from Bavaria.
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The Danube flows through Austria
Austria, officially the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It occupies an area of 83,879 square kilometres (32,386 sq mi) and has a population of around 9 million people. The country is bordered by Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
The Danube is the second-longest river in Europe, originating in the Black Forest mountains of western Germany and flowing for some 1,770 miles (2,850 kilometres) to its mouth on the Black Sea. The river connects and marks the borders of ten European countries, including Austria.
The Danube flows through many cities, including four national capitals: Vienna in Austria, Bratislava in Slovakia, Budapest in Hungary, and Belgrade in Serbia. The river is an important waterway, connecting the Port of Rotterdam and the industrial centres of Western Europe with the Black Sea. It has been partly canalised in Austria to improve navigation, with ten locks built along the Austrian section of the river.
In Austria, the Danube cuts into the slopes of the Bohemian Forest and forms a narrow valley. Dams and protective dikes have been constructed near the cities of Passau, Linz, and Ardagger to further improve navigation. The river's upper course in Austria, stretching from its source to the Hungarian Gates Gorge in the Austrian Alps, is around 600 miles (965 kilometres) long and has a rapid current of two to five miles per hour.
The Danube is more than just a waterway; it is also a popular destination for outdoor activities. The Danube Bike Trail, one of the most popular bike trails in Germany, follows the river from its origin to its mouth at the Black Sea. The trail passes through Bavarian and Austrian communities, offering cyclists a unique perspective of the landscapes and viewpoints along the river.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, covering an area of 83,879 square kilometres (32,386 square miles) or 83,871 square kilometres (32,383 square miles).
Austria is predominantly mountainous, with the Alps occupying 62% of the country. The country is divided into three unequal geographical areas: the Alps, the Pannonian plain in the east, and the Bohemian Forest north of the river Danube.
The three major ranges of the Alps in Austria are the Northern Calcareous Alps, the Central Alps, and the Southern Calcareous Alps. The highest mountain in Austria is Großglockner, at 3,797 meters.
