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Germany and Austria are two countries in Central Europe. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is the most populous member state of the European Union, with over 82 million people. It is bordered by the Baltic and North Seas to the north, Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, and France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands to the west. Austria, on the other hand, is a landlocked country that shares borders with Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west, Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the northeast, Hungary to the east, Slovenia to the south, and Italy to the southwest. Austria is a mountainous country, with the Austrian Alps forming the physical backbone of the country. Germany also has a varied landscape, with tall mountains in the south and sandy, rolling plains in the north.
Where is Germany and Austria?
| Characteristics | Germany | Austria |
|---|---|---|
| Formal Name | Federal Republic of Germany | Republic of Austria |
| Geography | Central Europe | Central Europe |
| Terrain | Varied terrain, including beaches, islands, hills, farmland, mountains, and lakes. | Predominantly Alpine terrain, with mountains and forests. |
| Climate | Mild with four seasons. Summers rarely get too hot, and winters are fairly mild except in the southern mountains. | Cool/temperate climate with humid westerly winds. Winters are cold, and summers can be relatively hot. |
| Population | Over 82 million | Around 9 million |
| Area | 357,596 km2 (138,069 sq mi) | 83,879 km2 (32,386 sq mi) |
| Capital | Berlin | Vienna |
| Main Financial Centre | Frankfurt | Vienna |
| Number of States | 16 | 9 |
| Bordering Countries | Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands | Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein |
| Immigration | Second-highest number of international migrants worldwide as of 2015. | N/A |
| Economy | Largest economy in Europe by nominal GDP. | 13th highest nominal GDP per capita. |
| Political System | Federal republic | Semi-presidential representative democracy |
| International Organisations | Part of multiple international organisations, including the European Union. | Member of the United Nations, European Union, NATO's Partnership for Peace, and other international organisations. |
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What You'll Learn
Germany's borders and landscape
Germany is in Central Europe and has the second-most borders of any European country, after Russia. It shares borders with nine countries: Denmark in the north, Poland and the Czech Republic in the east, Switzerland and Austria in the south, France in the southwest, and Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands in the west. Germany also shares maritime borders with Sweden and the United Kingdom.
The northern third of Germany lies in the North European Plain, with flat terrain crossed by northward-flowing watercourses (Elbe, Ems, Weser, Oder). Wetlands and marshy conditions are found close to the Dutch border and along the Frisian coast. Sandy Mecklenburg in the northeast has many glacier-formed lakes dating to the last glacial period.
Central Germany features rough and patternless hilly and mountainous countryside, some of it formed by ancient volcanic activity. The Rhine valley cuts through the western part of this region. The central uplands continue east and north, merging with the Ore Mountains on the border with the Czech Republic. Upland regions include the Eifel, Hunsrück, and Palatine Forest west of the Rhine, the Taunus hills north of Frankfurt, the Vogelsberg massif, the Rhön, and the Thuringian Forest.
Southern Germany's landforms are defined by various linear hill and mountain ranges like the Swabian and Franconian Alb, and the Bavarian Forest along the border with the Czech Republic. The Alps on the southern border contain Germany's highest mountains, but relatively little Alpine terrain lies within Germany compared to Switzerland and Austria. The Black Forest, on the southwestern border with France, separates the Rhine from the headwaters of the Danube on its eastern slopes.
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Austria's borders and landscape
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, sharing borders with eight countries: Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, and Liechtenstein. The country covers an area of 83,870.95 sq km, with a total border length of 2,706 km.
Austria's landscape is incredibly diverse, ranging from towering Alpine peaks to gentle hills, lush meadows, and crystal-clear lakes. The country can be divided into three main geographical areas: the Alps, the Pannonian Plain, and the Bohemian Forest. The Alps dominate the country, covering 62% of its area, with majestic mountains, valleys, forests, meadows, and Alpine pastures. The Central Alps, consisting largely of granite, are the largest and highest range in Austria, running from Tyrol to the Styria-Lower Austria border. The Northern and Southern Calcareous Alps, predominantly composed of limestone and dolomite, flank the Central Alps to the north and south, respectively. The highest mountain in Austria is Großglockner, reaching a height of 3,797 or 3,798 meters.
The Pannonian Plain stretches across eastern Austria, providing a contrast to the mountainous regions. This plain includes Lake Neusiedl, orchards, vineyards, and gentle rolling hills. The Bohemian Forest, also known as the Bohemian Massif, is an older, lower mountain range located north of the Danube River. It covers 10% of the country and is characterized by bare, windswept plateaus and a harsh climate.
Austria's landscape is also shaped by its waterways, with the Danube River being the longest river in the country, contributing 350 km to its length. The Danube Valley, part of the Northern Alpine Foreland, is an important transit route and includes the historic city of Vienna. Other notable rivers include the Inn, Salzach, Enns, Gail, Drau, Mürz, and Mur, which flow into the Danube or its drainage system. The clear lakes, rivers, and waterfalls of Austria are renowned for their beauty and excellent water quality, with 88% of its bathing lakes rated as "excellent".
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Germany's climate and terrain
Germany's climate is generally temperate, especially considering its northerly latitudes and the distance of the larger portions of its territory from the warming influence of the North Atlantic Current. The country experiences cool winters in the west and cold winters in the east, with moderate rainfall year-round and mostly overcast skies from November to February. The north and centre of Germany lie fully in the temperate climatic zone, with humid westerly winds predominating. In the northwest and the north, the climate is oceanic, with cool winters and warm summers. In the east, the climate is more clearly continental, with cold winters and warm summers, and dry periods are often recorded. In the centre and the south, there is a transitional climate between oceanic and continental, with cool winters and warm summers, though maximum temperatures can exceed 30 °C (86 °F) for several days in a row during heat waves. The warmest regions of Germany are in the southwest, such as the Rhine Rift Valley, the German Wine Route, and Palatinate.
The climate in Germany is subject to great variations from year to year. Winters may be unusually cold or prolonged, particularly in the higher elevations in the south, or they may be mild, with temperatures hovering only a few degrees above or below freezing. Spring may arrive early and extend through a hot, rainless summer to a warm, dry autumn with the threat of drought. In other years, spring may arrive late and be followed by a cool, rainy summer. One less-agreeable feature of the German climate is the almost permanent overcast in the cool seasons, which is infrequently accompanied by precipitation; it sets in towards the latter part of autumn and lifts as late as March or April. Thus, for months on end, little sunshine may appear.
Germany's northwestern and lowland portions are affected chiefly by the uniformly moist air, moderate in temperature, that is carried inland from the North Sea by the prevailing westerly winds. Although this influence affords moderately warm summers and mild winters, it is accompanied by high humidities, extended stretches of rainfall, and fog in the cooler seasons. Precipitation diminishes eastward, as the plains open toward the Eurasian interior and the average temperatures for the warmest and coldest months become more extreme. The hilly areas of the central and southwestern regions and, to an even greater degree, the upland and plateau areas of the southeast are subject to the more pronounced ranges of hot and cold from the countervailing continental climate.
The mountains have a wetter and cooler climate, with westward-facing slopes receiving the highest rainfall from maritime air masses. The Brocken in the Harz mountains receives annual precipitation of some 60 inches (1,500 mm) at an altitude in excess of 3,700 feet (1,100 metres). The sheltered lee slopes and basins have, by contrast, extremely low rainfall—Alsleben receives about 17 inches (432 mm) annually—and hot summers that necessitate crop irrigation. Southeastern Germany may intermittently be the coldest area of the country in the winter, but the valleys of the Rhine, Main, Neckar, and Moselle rivers may also be the hottest in the summer. Winters in the North German Plain tend to be consistently colder, if only by a few degrees, than in the south, largely because of winds from Scandinavia.
Germany's terrain encompasses a wide variety of landscapes. The country's southern regions have forested hills and mountains cut through by the Danube, Main, and Rhine river valleys. The Black Forest, on the southwestern border with France, is Germany's largest wooded area and is a mountainous region full of pines and fir trees. In the north, the landscape flattens out to a wide plain that stretches to the North Sea. The flat northern coast is home to sea life and wading birds, while the forested hills and mountains in the south are the best place to find wildcats, boar, ibex, and other large mammals. The lakes and wetlands along Germany's coastlines are important stopover points for many migrating birds.
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Austria's climate and terrain
Austria's climate is heavily influenced by the Alps, which cause the country to have a transitional climate. The country can be divided into three climatic zones: the eastern part, which has a continental Pannonian climate; the central Alpine region, which has an Alpine climate; and the remaining part of the country, which has a wet and temperate central European climate. The prevailing wind is from the west, so humidity is highest in the west and diminishes towards the east. The wetter western regions of Austria have an Atlantic climate with a yearly rainfall of about 40 inches (1,000 mm), while the drier eastern regions have less precipitation. The coldest month in Austria is usually January, with the temperature in the lowlands and hilly eastern regions reaching a median of 30 °F (−1 °C). The winter snow cover in the valleys typically lasts from late December through March and can last from November through May at higher altitudes. The climate in the mountainous regions of Austria can be classified as Dfb, a humid snow climate with the warmest month between 50 and 72 °F (10 to 22 °C) and the coldest month below 26 °F (−3 °C).
Austria's terrain is diverse and varied, with mountains, valleys, and plains. The Alps are the country's major mountain range, covering about 62% of its area. The highest peak in Austria is Grossglockner, which stands at 3,797-3,798 meters. The major valleys in Austria, which also serve as important transportation routes, are the Danube Valley, the Inn Valley, and the Salzach Valley. The Danube Valley is a fertile and scenic region that curves east and south of the Alps through Lower Austria, Vienna, Burgenland, and Styria. The major plains in Austria are the Vienna Basin and the Pannonian Basin. The Austrian Plateau, located in the northeastern part of the country, is another vast and varied terrain, characterised by rolling hills, plateaus, and fertile plains. The Styrian Basin is known for its culinary specialties and agricultural products. The country's topography also includes rolling hills, such as those in the Central Uplands, and vast terrains, such as the Eastern Alps. The contrast between Lake Constance in the Alps and the Neusiedler See on the Hungarian Plain illustrates the diversity of Austria's landscape.
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Germany and Austria's history
Germany and Austria have a long shared history, with both countries at various times forming part of the Holy Roman Empire. The first recorded instance of the name 'Austria' appeared in 996, in a document of King Otto III written as 'Ostarrîchi', referring to the territory of the Babenberg March. In 976, Otto considerably reduced Bavaria, re-establishing Carinthia to its south and establishing a new Bavarian Eastern March, which would later become known as Austria, under Leopold, count of Babenberg. Leopold I, also known as Leopold the Illustrious, ruled Austria from 976 to 994.
During Emperor Claudius's reign (41–54 AD), Noricum was bounded on the east by the Vienna Woods, the current eastern border of Styria, and parts of the Danube, Eisack, and Drava rivers. The Romans built many Austrian cities that survive today, including Vindobona (Vienna), Juvavum (Salzburg), and Brigantium (Bregenz).
In the 18th century, the Kingdom of Prussia rose as a rival power to Austria within the Holy Roman Empire. Prussia and Austria fought a series of wars over the province of Silesia (in modern-day southwestern Poland) between 1740 and 1763. Austria and Prussia also cooperated in the Partitions of Poland and the Second Schleswig War, which resulted in the annexations of Polish and Danish territory. The Holy Roman Empire came to an end during the Napoleonic Wars in the 1790s and 1800s, with Austria and Prussia allying but fighting unsuccessfully against the French Empire. In 1804, Francis II, the Holy Roman Emperor, proclaimed the Austrian Empire, as the remaining German States had become clients of Napoleon's French Empire under the Confederation of the Rhine. After the fall of the Austro-Hungarian and German Empires in World War I, Austria briefly renamed itself the Republic of German-Austria in 1918 in a bid for union with Germany. This was forbidden by the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1919).
In 1938, Austrian-born Adolf Hitler annexed Austria to Germany, which was supported by a large majority of Austrians. Austria existed as a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II, when the Allied powers declared the annexation void and re-established an independent Austria. In 1949, the first victim theory gained popularity in Austria, which held that Austria was the first victim of Nazi Germany and therefore not complicit in Nazi German crimes. This theory has since been disproven by Austrians themselves. In 1955, Austria again became an independent republic, and in 1995, it joined the European Union, of which Germany was already a member.
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Frequently asked questions
Germany is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Baltic and North Seas to the north, Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, and France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands to the west.
Austria is located to the south of Germany. It borders Germany to the northwest.
Germany has a varied landscape. The south of the country is characterised by tall, sheer mountains, the north by sandy, rolling plains, the west by forested hills, and the east by plains used for agriculture.
Austria is a largely mountainous country due to its location in the Alps. The Austrian Alps form the physical backbone of the country, with the highest elevation being the Grossglockner, which rises 3,798 meters above sea level. The country also has lowlands and hilly regions in the northeast and east, and rolling hills and lowlands in the southeast.
The capital of Germany is Berlin, and the capital of Austria is Vienna.
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