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Austria is a predominantly mountainous country in Central Europe, with a median altitude of 910m. The country is bordered by the Alps, a mountain range that stretches from North Africa across southern Europe and Asia to beyond the Himalayas. The Alps dominate Austria, with three major ranges running west to east across the country: the Northern Calcareous Alps, the Central Alps, and the Southern Calcareous Alps. The Central Alps are the largest and highest range in Austria, with the country's tallest mountain, Großglockner, reaching 3,797m or 3,798m.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country | Austria |
| Mountain Chain | The Alps |
| Major Mountain Ranges | The Northern Calcareous Alps, the Central Alps, the Southern Calcareous Alps, the Southern Limestone Alps, the Northern Limestone Alps |
| Highest Peak | Großglockner |
| Height of Highest Peak | 3,797 m or 3,798 m or 12,460 ft |
| Other Notable Mountains | Wildspitze, Weißkugel, Großvenediger, Kitzsteinhorn, Wilder Kaiser, Zahmer Kaiser, Kitzbühel Alps, Lechtal Alps, Leogang Mountains, Lofer Mountains, Mieming Range, Oetztal Alps |
| Percentage of Forest Cover | 40% or 47% |
| Percentage of Arable Land | Less than 20% |
| Percentage of Alpine Terrain | 10% |
| Population | Approximately 9 million |
| Area | 83,871 sq km or 83,879 sq km or 32,383 sq mi or 32,386 sq mi |
| Lakes | Lake Constance or Bodensee, Lake Neusiedler See |
| Rivers | Danube, Tyolian Inn, Salzach, Enns, Drau |
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What You'll Learn
- The Alps dominate Austria, with three major ranges running west to east
- The Central Alps are the largest and highest range in Austria
- The Northern Calcareous Alps run from Vorarlberg to Lower Austria
- The Southern Calcareous Alps are predominantly limestone and dolomite
- The Eastern Alps constitute 62% of Austria's total area
The Alps dominate Austria, with three major ranges running west to east
Austria is a predominantly mountainous country in Central Europe, with a median altitude of 910 m (2,985 ft). The country is approximately 600 kilometres in its longest, east-west extension. The three major ranges of the Alps that run through Austria are the Northern Calcareous Alps, the Central Alps, and the Southern Calcareous Alps or Limestone Alps. The Central Alps, which consist largely of a granite base, are the largest and highest ranges in Austria. The Central Alps run from Tyrol to approximately the Styria-Lower Austria border and include areas that are permanently glaciated in the Ötztal Alps on the Tyrolean-Italian border and the High Tauern in East Tyrol and Carinthia. The Northern Calcareous Alps, which run from Vorarlberg through Tyrol into Salzburg along the German border and through Upper Austria and Lower Austria towards Vienna, are predominantly limestone and dolomite. The Southern Calcareous Alps or Limestone Alps run along the Carinthia-Slovenia border.
The altitude of the mountains drops north and south of the central ranges. 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 largest mountainous area of Austria is the Eastern Alps, which constitute 62% of the country's total area. Only 32% of Austria is below 500 m (1,640 ft) above sea level. The highest mountain in Austria is Großglockner, which stands at 3,797 m or 3,798 m according to different sources.
The Alps act as a watershed, with all major rivers north of the central mountains contributing to the Danube, Austria's biggest river. The rivers south of the central mountain range contribute to the River Drau, which flows independently to Serbia, where it empties into the Danube. The Danube Valley is part of the Northern Alpine Foreland, which, along with the lowlands and hilly regions in northeastern and eastern Austria, including the Danube Basin, and the rolling hills and lowlands of the Southeastern Alpine Foreland, make up the 28% of Austria that is moderately hilly or flat.
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The Central Alps are the largest and highest range in Austria
Austria is a highly mountainous country in Central Europe, sharing borders with eight other countries: the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. The country is predominantly mountainous, with a median altitude of 910 m (2,985 ft).
The Central Alps, which stretch from Tyrol to the Styria/Lower Austria border, is the highest and largest mountain range in Austria. The Central Alps encompass several other minor mountain ranges and chains, including the Ötztal Alps on the Austrian-Italian border and the High Tauern in Tyrol. The Kitzbühel Alps, which encircle the town of Kitzbühel in Tyrol, form a part of the Central Alps. The Central Alps also include areas that are permanently glaciated in the Ötztal Alps on the Tyrolean-Italian border and the High Tauern in East Tyrol and Carinthia.
The Central Alps consist largely of a granite base. They are part of the Austrian Alps, also known as the Eastern Alps, which constitute 62% of the country's total area. The Eastern Alps are the largest mountainous area of Austria. The altitude of the mountains in the Central Alps drops as they run from west to east across the country. As a general rule, the farther east the Central Alps run, the lower they become.
The Alps are a prominent geographic feature of Central Europe, with a crescent shape that stretches approximately 1,200 km (750 mi) from east to west. The range includes mountains in eight countries, with 28.7% of the area in Austria. The Alps are some of the highest and most extensive mountain ranges in Europe, with a mean peak height of 2.5 km (1.6 mi). The highest mountain in Austria is Großglockner, at 3,797 m or 3,798 m (12,460 ft) above sea level.
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The Northern Calcareous Alps run from Vorarlberg to Lower Austria
Austria is a predominantly mountainous country in Central Europe, sharing borders with eight other countries. Three major ranges of the Alps run west to east through Austria: the Northern Calcareous Alps, the Central Alps, and the Southern Calcareous Alps.
The Northern Calcareous Alps, also known as the Northern Limestone Alps, run from Vorarlberg through Tyrol into Salzburg along the German border, and through Upper Austria, Styria, and Lower Austria toward Vienna. The range extends from the Rhine valley and the Bregenz Forest in Vorarlberg in the west, ending at the Wienerwald at the city limits of Vienna in the east. The Northern Calcareous Alps are predominantly limestone and dolomite, with the highest peaks being the Parseierspitze in the Lechtal Alps and the Hoher Dachstein. The Northern Calcareous Alps are part of the Eastern Alps, which constitute 62% of Austria's total area.
The Northern Calcareous Alps are distinct from the Central Eastern Alps, which contain the higher peaks, due to differences in geological composition. The Northern Calcareous Alps are formed from the salt-influenced Triassic carbonate sedimentary cover of the ancestral European margin of the Neo-Tethys Ocean. The Alpine Club classification of the Eastern Alps identifies several ranges within the Northern Limestone Alps, including the Lechtal Alps, where the famous Ski Arlberg Skiing Area is located.
The Central Alps, which stretch from Tyrol to the Styria/Lower Austria border, are the highest and largest range in the country. The Central Alps include the Oetztal Alps on the Austrian-Italian border and the High Tauern in East Tyrol and Carinthia. The Southern Calcareous Alps are located on the Carinthia-Slovenia border.
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The Southern Calcareous Alps are predominantly limestone and dolomite
Austria is a predominantly mountainous country in Central Europe, sharing borders with eight other countries. Three major ranges of the Alps run west to east through Austria: the Northern Calcareous Alps, the Central Alps, and the Southern Calcareous Alps.
The Southern Calcareous Alps, also known as the Southern Limestone Alps, are predominantly limestone and dolomite. They are the ranges of the Eastern Alps south of the Central Eastern Alps, mainly located in northern Italy and the adjacent lands of Austria and Slovenia. The Southern Alps extend from the Sobretta-Gavia range in Lombardy in the west to the Pohorje in Slovenia in the east. They are a distinct physiographic section of the larger Alps province, which is part of the Alpine System physiographic division.
The Southern Calcareous Alps are distinguished from the Central Alps by differences in geological composition. The Central Alps, which consist largely of a granite base, are the largest and highest ranges in Austria. The Central Alps include the Oetztal Alps on the Tyrolean-Italian border and the High Tauern in East Tyrol and Carinthia, which are permanently glaciated.
The Northern Calcareous Alps, which are also distinguished from the Central Alps by their geological composition, run from Vorarlberg through Tyrol into Salzburg along the German border and through Upper Austria and Lower Austria toward Vienna. The highest peaks in the Northern Limestone Alps are the Parseierspitze (3,036 m) in the Lechtal Alps, and the Hoher Dachstein (2,996 m).
Austria's landscape is characterised by its mountainous regions, with just over 28% of the country moderately hilly or flat. The altitude of the mountains drops north and south of the central ranges. The country's dense forests, raging rivers, and snow-capped summits provide habitats for a diverse range of wildlife, including deer, rabbits, foxes, squirrels, wild boars, martens, and, more recently, a small population of brown bears.
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The Eastern Alps constitute 62% of Austria's total area
Austria is a predominantly mountainous country in Central Europe, sharing borders with eight other countries. It is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe, with a median altitude of 910 m (2,985 ft). The Eastern Alps, which constitute 62% of the country's total area, are the largest mountainous area in Austria. The Alps themselves and their wider extensions into the north, east, and south, cover some 62% of the country.
The Alps in Austria can be divided into three major ranges that run from west to east across the country: the Northern Calcareous Alps, the Central Alps, and the Southern Calcareous Alps. The Central Alps, which stretch from Tyrol to the Styria/Lower Austria border, are the highest and largest range in the country. The Central Alps include the Ötztal Alps on the Austrian-Italian border and the High Tauern in Tyrol. The Northern Calcareous Alps run from Vorarlberg through Tyrol into Salzburg along the German border, Upper Austria, and Lower Austria toward Vienna. The Southern Calcareous Alps are on the Carinthia-Slovenia border.
The altitude of the mountains drops north and south of the central ranges. The parts of Austria that are most suitable for settlement run north of the Alps through 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 Alps act as a watershed, and all major rivers north of the central mountains contribute to the Danube, Austria's biggest river. The Danube runs across the country from west to east and is the only major river in Europe to follow this direction. The rivers south of the central mountain range contribute to the River Drau, which flows independently to Serbia, where it empties into the Danube.
The Eastern Alps are home to some of the finest mountains in Central Europe. The highest mountain in Austria is Großglockner, which stands at 3,798 m (12,460 ft). Other notable mountains in the Eastern Alps include Wildspitze (3,768 m/12,362 ft), Weißkugel (3,738 m/12,263 ft), Großvenediger (3,662 m/12,014 ft), and Kitzsteinhorn (3,203 m/10,508 ft).
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Frequently asked questions
The Alps dominate Austria, with three major ranges running west to east across the country: the Northern Calcareous Alps, the Central Alps, and the Southern Calcareous Alps. The Central Alps are the largest and highest range in Austria.
Großglockner is the highest mountain in Austria, at 3,797 or 3,798 metres. Other notable mountains in Austria include Wildspitze at 3,768 metres, Weißkugel at 3,738 metres, Großvenediger at 3,662 metres, and Kitzsteinhorn at 3,203 metres.
Austria is a predominantly mountainous country in Central Europe, with a median altitude of 910 metres. About 62% of the country is mountainous, with the Eastern Alps constituting most of this area. The remaining 32% of Austria is below 500 metres above sea level. The country also has extensive plains, such as the Pannonian Plain, and access to the largest lake in Europe, Lake Constance.
