Lexi Webster
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe with a diverse terrain and topography. The country is bordered by eight countries: Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. The Austrian landscape is characterised by mountains and forests, with the Austrian Alps forming the physical backbone of the country. The Alps extend from Switzerland into western and central Austria, with several branches, including the Bavarian, Carnic, and Otztaler ranges. The tallest peaks are in the central Tauern Range. The Northern Alpine Foreland, which includes the Danube Valley, is moderately hilly or flat, and the lowlands in the northeast and east of the country are the agricultural centre.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Geographic location | South-Central Europe |
| Hemisphere | Northern and Eastern |
| Bordering countries | 8 countries: Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany |
| Area | 83,879 sq. km (32,386 sq mi) |
| Terrain | Mountainous, rolling hills, plateaus, valleys, lakes |
| Average elevation | 1,952 ft |
| Climate types | Oceanic (Cfb), Cool/Warm-summer humid continental (Dfb), Subarctic/Subalpine (Dfc), Tundra/Alpine (ET), Ice-Cap (EF) |
| Weather systems | Atlantic maritime climate, continental climate, Mediterranean high-pressure systems |
| Major river | Danube River |
| Other rivers | Drau, Enns, Inn, Mur, Raab, Traun |
| Largest lake | Lake Neusiedler |
| Highest mountain | Großglockner |
| Mountain height | 3,797 m |
| Mountain range | The Alps, including the Northern Alpine Foreland, Central Alps, Northern Calcareous Alps, Southern Calcareous Alps |
| Agriculture | Arable land: 16.44%, permanent crops: 0.79%, other: 82.77% (2012) |
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What You'll Learn
The Northern Alpine Foreland and the Danube Valley
The Northern Alpine Foreland, also known as the Bavarian Foreland, Bavarian Plateau, or Bavarian Alpine Foreland, is a triangular region of plateau and rolling foothills in Southern Germany. It stretches from Lake Constance in the west to beyond Linz on the Danube in the east, with the Bavarian Alps forming its southern boundary and the Danube its northern extent. The Foreland has been shaped by the ice ages and is characterised by a rich variety of landforms, including morainic hills, gravel sandar, and lakes.
The Danube River is the most significant river in Austria and the second-longest river in Europe, stretching for 1,771 miles (2,850 km). It serves as a vital waterway for commerce and transportation, providing important passageways leading to eastern and southeastern Europe. Nearly all Austrian territory drains into the Danube River system, and it is the most populous region in the country, with approximately two-thirds of the population living in its river valleys and surrounding lowlands.
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The Bohemian Massif and the Czech border
The Bohemian Massif is a geomorphological province in Central Europe, stretching over most of the Czech Republic, eastern Germany, southern Poland, and northern Austria. The Massif is a large, dissected, quadrangular plateau, covering an area of about 60,000 square miles (158,000 square kilometres). The landscapes in the Bohemian Massif are dominated by rolling hills, valleys, and ridges.
The Massif's internal tectonic structure was formed during the Variscan Orogeny, a phase of mountain-building caused by the collision of the paleocontinents Gondwana and Laurussia. The basement rocks of the Bohemian Massif are part of three main structural zones, which differ in metamorphic degrees, lithologies, and tectonic styles. These zones are the Saxothuringian Zone, the Moldanubian Zone, and the Moravian-Silesian Zone.
The Bohemian Massif encompasses a number of Mittelgebirges and consists of crystalline rocks that are over 300 million years old. The highest peaks on the Czech-Austrian border are Plöckenstein (1,378 m) and Sternstein (1,125 m). The groundwater in flatter areas and valleys influenced the soil formation, where gley soils can be found.
The Bohemian Forest, known as Šumava in Czech and Böhmerwald in German, is a low mountain range within the Bohemian Massif that forms a natural border between the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany. The mountains have an average height of 800-1,400 meters, with the highest peak at 1,378 meters. The Bohemian Forest has a complicated history, having been part of the Iron Curtain in the 20th century, and its unique circumstances have preserved nature and forest ecosystems with minimal human influence.
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The Central Alps and the Tyrolean-Italian border
The Northern Calcareous Alps, which are predominantly limestone and dolomite, run from Vorarlberg through Tyrol and Salzburg along the German border, then through Upper Austria and Lower Austria towards Vienna. The altitude of the mountains in the Central Alps generally decreases as they extend further east, and also drops north and south of the central ranges. The Central Alps are part of the greater Alpine Region, which covers 70% of Austria and includes several ranges such as the Bavarian, Carnic, and Otztaler.
The Tyrolean-Italian border has a rich history and cultural significance. South Tyrol, located at the northernmost point in Italy, was given to Italy after World War I as a promised prize for joining the Allies. The region has two main ethnic groups: German-speakers and Italian-speakers, with German being the most commonly spoken first language. Over time, the Italian government has made concessions to the German-speakers, and the two groups have coexisted peacefully, benefiting from the blend of their cultures.
The terrain of the Tyrolean-Italian border is highly mountainous, with the landscape dominated by mountains. The Dolomites in the eastern part of the region are particularly well-known for their craggy peaks. The highest peak in South Tyrol is the Ortler, which stands at 3,905 meters (12,812 feet) and is also the highest peak in the Eastern Alps outside the Bernina Range.
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The Northern Calcareous Alps and the German border
The Northern Calcareous Alps, also known as the Northern Limestone Alps, are a range of the Eastern Alps found north of the Central Eastern Alps. They are located in Austria and the adjacent Bavarian lands of southeastern Germany. The Northern Calcareous Alps run from Vorarlberg through Tyrol into Salzburg along the German border, then through Upper Austria and Lower Austria toward Vienna. The highest peaks in this range are the Parseierspitze (3,036 m) in the Lechtal Alps and the Hoher Dachstein (2,996 m).
The Northern Calcareous Alps are predominantly composed of limestone and dolomite, in contrast to the higher Central Eastern Alps, which are composed of crystalline rocks. The distinction between these two groups is based on differences in geological composition and rock formation processes. The Northern Calcareous Alps, for example, represent a salt-floored fold-and-thrust belt that developed from the salt-influenced Triassic carbonate sedimentary cover of the ancestral European margin of the Neo-Tethys Ocean. This process resulted in the formation of great recumbent folds or nappes, which rose out of the former Tethys Sea and pushed northward, often breaking and sliding over one another to form gigantic thrust faults.
The Northern Calcareous Alps are part of the larger Alps mountain system, which forms parts of nine nations in Europe, including Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. The Alps are a significant geographic feature, overshadowing other landform regions in Austria and providing a central route for European traffic between east and west along the Danubian trade route. The Brenner Pass, located on the Austrian-Italian border in Tyrol, is an important and convenient route for north-south transit between Germany and Italy, connecting two of Europe's most highly industrialized regions.
The Alps also serve as a watershed for Europe's three major weather systems, which influence Austrian weather. The Atlantic maritime climate from the northwest brings mild air from the Gulf Stream and precipitation. The continental climate, which affects mainly eastern Austria, is characterized by low-pressure fronts with precipitation in summer and high-pressure systems with cold and dry air in winter. Mediterranean high-pressure systems from the south bring warm air and influence the weather of the southern slopes of the Alps, making them the most temperate part of Austria.
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The Eastern Alps and the Austrian economy
Austria is a landlocked country in south-central Europe, characterised by its mountainous landscape. The Alps form the physical backbone of the country, with 70% of Austria covered by the Alpine region. The Eastern Alps, in particular, are divided into the Northern Alps, the Greywacke zone, the Central Alps, and the Southern Alps.
The Central Eastern Alps is a broader term that refers to a larger area of the Eastern Alps, mainly located in Austria. This region extends from the foot of the Bergamasque Alps at Lake Como to the eastern shore of the Rhine in Liechtenstein. The valleys of the Inn, Salzach, and Enns rivers mark the Northern boundary, while the Drava river marks the Southern border.
The mainstay of the modern Alpine economy is a combination of mining and quarrying, manufacturing, industries, and tourism. Mining has been a significant economic activity in the Alps since the Neolithic period, and it continues to be important in Austria, especially in the Erzberg region, where iron has been extracted for centuries. The Eastern Alps in Austria are also home to pulp and paper plants that utilise the abundant Alpine forests in the region.
The Alpine passes have served as crucial transportation routes, connecting isolated valleys and contributing to the development of trade and commerce. The Brenner Pass, located on the Austrian-Italian border in Tyrol, is an important northwest-southeast line of communication. The development of hydroelectricity in the late 19th and 20th centuries also attracted heavy industries to the major transverse valleys of the Eastern Alps.
Tourism is a significant contributor to the economy of the Eastern Alps in Austria, with numerous ski resorts attracting visitors from around the world. The Grossglockner High Alpine Road, the highest surfaced mountain pass road in Austria, is a notable scenic route that boosts tourism in the region.
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Frequently asked questions
Northern Austria is hilly and forested, with mountains and valleys. The Bohemian Massif extends across the Czech border into Lower Austria. The Danube Valley, which is fertile and scenic, is also in the north of the country.
Großglockner is the highest mountain in Austria, at 3,797 m.
The Danube is the most significant river in Austria, and it runs through the north of the country.
The climate in Northern Austria is continental, with low-pressure fronts and precipitation in summer, and high-pressure systems with cold and dry air in winter.
Austria is a landlocked, mountainous country in Central Europe. The Austrian Alps form the physical backbone of the country, with the Central Alps running from Tyrol to the Styria-Lower Austria border. The country also has rolling hills, plateaus, valleys, and lakes.
