Leslie Massey
Austria is a federal republic located in Central Europe. It is a predominantly mountainous country, with nearly three-quarters of its landscape dominated by the Alps. Austria is bordered by Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, and more. The country is divided into nine federal states: Oberösterreich, Burgenland, Niederösterreich, Kärnten, Salzburg, Tirol, Steiermark, Wien, and Vorarlberg. Austria is one of the most famous travel destinations in Europe, known for its skiing and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Continent | Europe |
| Formal Name | Republic of Austria |
| Type of Government | Federal republic, democratic republic |
| Land Area | 83,879 km2 (32,386 sq mi) or 83,871 km2 (32,383 sq mi) |
| Population | 9 million |
| Capital | Vienna |
| Official Language | Austrian German |
| Currency | Euro |
| Time Zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| Calling Code | +43 |
| Major Mountain Range | The Alps |
| Major Rivers | Danube River, Drava River, Enns River, Inn River, Isar River |
| Major Lakes | Achensee, Attersee, Bodensee (Lake Constance) |
| Ecological Issues | Forest degradation, air pollution, soil pollution |
| Major Cities | Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Klagenfurt, Linz, Villach, Bregenz, Hallein, Krems |
| States | 9, including Vienna, Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Styria, Tyrol, Carinthia, Salzburg, Vorarlberg, Burgenland |
| International Organizations | United Nations, European Union |
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What You'll Learn
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe
Austria's strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe has made it vulnerable to air pollution from transiting trucks and neighbouring countries with poor pollution control policies. This, combined with domestic pollution from agricultural chemicals and industrial plants, has led to forest degradation and other ecological problems.
Austria has a total area of approximately 83,870 square kilometres (or 32,380 square miles) and a population of around 9 million people. 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.
Austria has a rich history, with the area being inhabited since at least the Paleolithic period. Around 400 BC, it was inhabited by the Celts and was later annexed by the Romans in the late 1st century BC. Christianisation in the region began in the 4th and 5th centuries, followed by the arrival of Germanic tribes during the Migration Period. In more recent times, Austria experienced social and economic turbulence after the collapse of Austria-Hungary in 1918, and it became a neutral state in 1955.
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The country is divided into nine federal states
Austria is a federal republic that is divided into nine federal states, also known as provinces. These states are:
- Vienna, the capital and most populous city and state.
- Upper Austria, which is densely populated and largely situated in the Danube valley.
- Lower Austria, which contains Vienna's suburbs and is predominantly agricultural.
- Burgenland, which is near-exclusively agricultural.
- Styria (Steiermark), which has many Alpine blocks.
- Carinthia (Kärnten), which is geographically remote and has some high Alpine characteristics.
- Tyrol (Tirol), an alpine state.
- Salzburg, an alpine state.
- Vorarlberg, a small, wealthy, and isolated alpine state with a distinct Alemannic culture.
Each Austrian federal state has an elected legislature, the federal state parliament, and a federal state government (Landesregierung) headed by a governor (Landeshauptmann or Landeshauptfrau). The federal state constitution determines how the seats in the federal state government are assigned to political parties, with most federal states having a system of proportional representation based on the number of delegates in the federal state parliament. The governor is elected by the federal state parliament and is typically the leader of the majority party or coalition in the federal state parliament.
The federal states in Austria have a much smaller degree of autonomy compared to American states or German lands. However, they can pass laws within the limits of the constitution and have representatives in the main Austrian parliament. They also have their own legislative bodies, financial management systems, and the power to levy some taxes and rates.
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The capital, Vienna, is the most populous city and state
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, of which Vienna is the most populous city and state. With a population of around 1.8 million, Vienna is Austria's smallest state in terms of area but its largest in terms of population.
Vienna has been the capital of Austria since 1918, when the country emerged as a republic after World War I. However, the city has a much longer history as a seat of power. The Romans set up the military camp of Vindobona in the 1st century, which served as a trade and communications network across the Roman Empire. In 1155, Vienna became the seat of the Babenbergs, who ruled Austria from 976 to 1246. The city was granted rights in 1221, and in the 16th century, the Habsburgs established Vienna as the seat of the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, a position it held until the empire's dissolution in 1806.
Vienna's time as the capital of the Austrian Empire began in 1804, and it continued as the capital of all its successor states. From 1867 to 1918, Vienna was the capital of Austria-Hungary, and the city's population increased sharply during this period due to industrialization and migration. After World War I, Vienna was divided into five zones, including an international zone covering the Innere Stadt ("Inner City"). Vienna suffered damage during World War II, with about a third of the city centre destroyed by air raids.
Vienna is located in the northeastern corner of Austria, between the foothills of the Alps and the Carpathians. The city is situated alongside the Danube River, with most of it on the right bank. The Vienna basin was a nodal point of ancient trade and military routes, linking north and south along the "amber route" and connecting east and west along the Danube. The city's strategic location has contributed to its prominence, commanding surrounding regions that include sections of Austria's borders with neighbouring countries.
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Austria is bordered by eight countries
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is predominantly mountainous and has a total area of 83,871 square kilometres (32,383 sq mi). Austria shares its national borders with eight countries.
To the west, Austria is bordered by Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The Austria-Switzerland boundary is 112 miles long and is divided by Liechtenstein. The boundary was established around 1798 with the creation of the Helvetic Republic. Switzerland is a landlocked state occupying an area of about 15,940 sq miles. The majority of its population lives in large cities like Geneva and Zurich, which are on the Swiss plateau.
To the north, Austria is bordered by Germany, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. The Germany-Austria boundary is about 497 miles long, making it the longest border for both countries. It runs from east to west, with the western point at the tripoint of Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, and the eastern end near Schwarzenberg-am-Bohmerwald, where the two countries meet with the Czech Republic. The Austria-Czech Republic border is 249 miles long, while the border with Slovakia is about 185 miles long. The River Morava forms a large part of the Slovakian border with Austria.
To the east, Austria is bordered by Hungary. The Austria-Hungary boundary is about 205 miles long and was established by the Trianon Treaty in 1920. From the end of World War II until 1989, the two countries were separated by an electric border fence. In October 2017, Hungary announced the opening of six new crossing points along the border.
To the south, Austria is bordered by Slovenia and Italy. The border with Slovenia is about 185 miles long, while the Austria-Italy boundary is about 251 miles long and has numerous border passes. The Brenner Pass, located on the Austrian-Italian border, is one of the lowest Alpine passes at 1,370 meters. It provides a direct route between Europe's two most industrialized regions: Germany and northern Italy.
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The country is predominantly mountainous
Austria is a predominantly mountainous country in Central Europe, with a total area of 83,871 square kilometres (32,383 sq mi) or 83,879 sq km (32,386 sq mi). It is bordered by Germany to the northwest, the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the northeast, Hungary to the east, Italy and Slovenia to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The country is home to some of the finest mountains in Central Europe, with 23,674 named summits.
Austria's mountainous landscape is characterised by the Austrian Alps, also known as the Central Alps, which form the backbone of the country. The Alps serve as a watershed for Europe's three major weather systems that influence Austrian weather. The Atlantic maritime climate from the northwest brings mild air from the Gulf Stream and precipitation, influencing the northern slopes of the Alps. The continental climate, characterised by low-pressure fronts with precipitation in summer and high-pressure systems with cold and dry air in winter, mainly affects eastern Austria. Meanwhile, Mediterranean high-pressure systems from the south bring warm air and influence the southern slopes of the Alps, making them the most temperate part of the country.
Austria is home to three major ranges of the Alps: the Northern Limestone Alps, the Central Alps, and the Southern Limestone Alps. These ranges run from east to west across the country. The Central Alps, which include the Oztal Alps and the High Tauern, are the largest and highest in the country, stretching from Tyrol to the Styria-Lower Austria border. The Northern Limestone Alps, which include the Bohemian Forest, run from Vorarlberg through Tyrol into Salzburg and towards Vienna. The Southern Limestone Alps, on the other hand, are predominantly composed of limestone and dolomite and can be found on the Carinthia-Slovenia border.
The highest mountain in Austria is Großglockner, rising to 3,798 metres (12,460 feet) or 3,797 metres. Other notable mountains include Wildspitze, Weißkugel, Großvenediger, and Kitzsteinhorn. The dense forests, raging rivers, and snow-capped summits of Austria provide habitats for a diverse array of wildlife, including deer, rabbits, foxes, squirrels, wild boars, martens, and recently, a small population of brown bears.
The mountainous terrain in Austria has shaped its land use and settlement patterns. The so-called "areas of permanent settlement" cover only about 40% of the country, encompassing regions that are cultivated, inhabited, and used for transportation. The majority of these settled areas are found in the Danube valley and the lowlands or hilly regions north, east, and south of the Alps. In the predominantly Alpine provinces, most people live in river valleys such as Innsbruck on the river Inn in Tyrol and Klagenfurt on the Wörthersee lake in Carinthia.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria is located in Europe.
Austria shares its borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
The capital of Austria is Vienna, which is also its most populous city.
