Lexi Webster
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a predominantly mountainous country with a total area of 83,871 square kilometres (32,383 sq mi). 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 landscape is characterised by mountains and forests, with the Austrian Alps forming the physical backbone of the country.
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What You'll Learn
Austria's total area is 83,879 km squared (32,386 sq mi)
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a predominantly mountainous country, with around 47% of its total land area covered in forest. This is equivalent to 3,899,150 hectares of forest in 2020, up from 3,775,670 hectares in 1990. In 2020, naturally regenerating forest covered 2,227,500 hectares, with planted forest covering 1,671,500 hectares. Of the naturally regenerating forest, 2% was reported to be primary forest, and around 23% of the forest area was found within protected areas.
Austria has a total area of 83,879 square kilometres (32,386 square miles). It is a federation of nine states, with the capital, Vienna, being the most populous city and state. The country extends roughly 360 miles (580 kilometres) from east to west. The Austrian portion of the Vienna basin makes up 4% of the country.
The landscape of Austria is characterised by mountains and forests. The Austrian Alps form the physical backbone of the country, with three major ranges running west to east: the Northern Calcareous Alps, the Central Alps, and the Southern Calcareous Alps. The Central Alps are the largest and highest range in Austria, running from Tyrol to the Styria-Lower Austria border. The Northern and Central Alps generally become lower in elevation as they run further east. The highest mountain in Austria is Großglockner, at 3,797 metres.
The second greatest mountain area in Austria is situated in the north. Known as the Austrian granite plateau, it is located in the central area of the Bohemian Mass and accounts for 10% of the country. North of the Danube Valley, the granite massif of the Bohemian Forest covers the remaining 10% of Austria's area.
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47% of the country is forest cover
Austria is a country with a diverse and rich natural environment, and this is reflected in its land usage. With a total area of 83,879 square kilometers (32,386 sq mi), Austria is slightly smaller than the US state of Maine, or, in European terms, slightly larger than the Republic of Ireland. However, what sets Austria apart is that almost half of its land, or 47%, is covered in forests. This amounts to roughly 39,322 square kilometers (15,182 sq mi). To put that into perspective, it is similar in size to the entire country of Switzerland.
This extensive forest cover makes Austria one of the most heavily forested countries in Europe. The European average for forest cover is around 37%, so Austria is above this threshold, and it is certainly a significant feature of the country's landscape and character. The forest landscape in Austria is varied, with a mix of coniferous and deciduous trees, and a range of different forest types, from the Alpine forests in the high mountains to the lowland forests of the east.
The benefits of this extensive forest cover are numerous. Firstly, it provides a habitat for a diverse range of plant and animal life, with many species of wildlife calling these forests home. It also plays a crucial role in the country's water cycle, with the forests acting as natural sponges, absorbing and storing rainwater, and helping to prevent flooding and soil erosion. In addition, these forests are an important natural resource, providing timber for construction and paper production, and also offering a range of recreational opportunities, with hiking, biking, and skiing all popular activities in Austria's forest areas.
The Austrian government recognizes the importance of this natural resource and has implemented a range of measures to ensure the sustainable management and conservation of its forests. This includes programs to promote sustainable forestry practices, as well as initiatives to encourage the regeneration of forests and the expansion of forest cover. The country's commitment to its forests is also reflected in its international contributions, with Austrian experts playing a key role in global forest conservation efforts.
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The Austrian granite plateau makes up 10% of the country
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, with a total area of 83,879 square kilometres (32,386 square miles) or 83,871 square kilometres (32,383 square miles). The country is predominantly mountainous, with the largest part (62%) occupied by the relatively young mountains of the Alps. The Alps serve as a watershed for Europe's three major kinds of weather systems that influence Austrian weather. The Austrian granite plateau, also known as the Gneiss and Granite Plateau, forms the second greatest mountain area in the country and makes up 10% of the country. The plateau is located in the north of the country, in the central area of the Bohemian Mass, and is much lower than the Alps. The granite massif of the Bohemian Forest, a low mountain range with bare and windswept plateaus and a harsh climate, is located north of the Danube Valley. The Danube River winds between the eastern edge of the Alps and the hills of Bohemia and Moravia in its journey toward the Hungarian Plain. The Manhartsberg, a granite ridge that separates Waldviertel from Weinviertel, is also notable.
The granite plateau is one of five major landscapes in Austria, forming the Mühlviertel and Waldviertel in the states of Upper and Lower Austria. Geologically, it is the Austrian part of the Bohemian Massif, which extends across the Czech border into Lower Austria. The Bohemian Massif is furrowed by many valleys that for centuries served as passageways leading to the east and southeast of Europe. The Austrian granite plateau is part of the Central Alps, which consist largely of a granite base. The Central Alps are the largest and highest ranges in Austria, running from Tyrol to the Styria-Lower Austria border. They include permanently glaciated areas in the Ötztal Alps on the Tyrolean-Italian border and the High Tauern in East Tyrol and Carinthia.
The Eastern Alps are the biggest of the five areas that make up Austria, constituting 62% of the nation's total area. The Austrian foothills at the base of the Alps and the Carpathians account for around 12%, while the foothills in the east and areas surrounding the periphery of the Pannoni low country amount to about 12% of the total landmass. The Austrian portion of the Vienna basin makes up 4% of the country.
Austria is bordered by Germany to the northwest, the Czech Republic to the north and northwest, Slovakia to the northeast, Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The westernmost third of the country is a narrow corridor between Germany and Italy, while the rest of the country lies to the east and has a maximum north-south width of 280 kilometres (170 miles). The country measures almost 600 kilometres (370 miles) in length, extending from Lake Constance on the Austrian-Swiss-German border in the west to the Neusiedler See on the Austrian-Hungarian border in the east.
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The country is approximately 580km (360 miles) from east to west
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, with a total area of 83,879 square kilometres (32,386 square miles) or 83,871 square kilometres (32,383 square miles). The country is approximately 580 kilometres (360 miles) from east to west.
Austria is bordered to the north by the Czech Republic, to the northeast by Slovakia, to the east by Hungary, to the south by Slovenia, to the southwest by Italy, to the west by Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and to the northwest by Germany. The westernmost third of the country is a narrow corridor between Germany and Italy, ranging from 20 to 37 miles (32 to 60 kilometres) wide. The rest of Austria lies to the east, with a maximum north-south width of 170 miles (280 kilometres).
Austria's landscape is characterised by mountains and forests. The Austrian Alps form the backbone of the country and can be subdivided into a northern and a southern limestone range, composed of rugged mountains. These two ranges are separated by a softer, central range composed of crystalline rocks. The most important pass in the Austrian Alps is the Brenner Pass, which is located on the Austrian-Italian border in Tyrol. This pass is one of the lowest Alpine passes at 1,370 metres and provides a direct route between Europe's two most highly industrialised regions: Germany and northern Italy.
The northeastern part of the country is where the Danube River winds between the eastern edge of the Alps and the hills of Bohemia and Moravia, eventually flowing into the Hungarian Plain. Vienna, Austria's capital and largest city, lies in the area where the Danube emerges from the mountains into the drier plains. North of the Danube Valley is the granite massif of the Bohemian Forest, a low mountain range with bare and windswept plateaus and a harsh climate.
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Two-thirds of the country is covered by woods and meadows
Covering an area of 83,879 square kilometres (or 32,386 square miles), two-thirds of Austria is covered by woods and meadows. The country is largely mountainous, with the Austrian Alps forming the physical backbone of the country. The Alps may be subdivided into a northern and a southern limestone range, each composed of rugged mountains. These two ranges are separated by a softer central range composed of crystalline rocks. The most important pass in the Austrian Alps is the Brenner Pass, which is located on the Austrian-Italian border in Tyrol. At 1,370 meters, it is one of the lowest Alpine passes and has historically been an important route of north-south transit between Germany and Italy.
In addition to the Alps, another important mountain range in Austria is the Austrian granite plateau, which is located in the central area of the Bohemian Mass and accounts for 10% of the country's area. North of the Danube Valley is the granite massif of the Bohemian Forest (known in German as the Böhmerwald), a low mountain range with windswept plateaus and a harsh climate. This area covers the remaining 10% of Austria.
Austria's landscape is characterised by mountains and forests, with forest cover accounting for around 47% of the country's total land area. In 2020, Austria had 3,899,150 hectares of forest, up from 3,775,670 hectares in 1990. Of this forest cover, 2,227,500 hectares were naturally regenerating, and 1,671,500 hectares were planted. The naturally regenerating forests included 2% of primary forest, consisting of native tree species with no visible signs of human activity. Additionally, about 23% of the forest area was within protected regions, and 18% was under public ownership.
The lowlands east of Vienna and the northern part of Burgenland can be considered a western extension of the Little Alföld (Little Hungarian Plain). This area, along with the numerous lakes throughout the country, is a legacy of the Pleistocene Epoch, during which glacial erosion created mountain lakes in the central Alpine district.
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Frequently asked questions
The total area of Austria is 83,879 square kilometres or 32,386 square miles.
Austria is slightly smaller than Maine.
Austria has a population density of 285.3 persons per square mile or 110.2 persons per square kilometre.
Austria has a population of around 9 million people.
Forest covers around 47% of Austria's total land area, which was equivalent to 3,899,150 hectares in 2020.
