1 GeoFroggy

Background

Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in World War I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequent occupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria's status remained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955 ended the occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbade unification with Germany. A constitutional law that same year declared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition for Soviet military withdrawal. Following the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995, some Austrian's have called into question this neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country, Austria entered the European Monetary Union in 1999.

Location

Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia

Area Comparative

Slightly smaller than Maine

Maritime Claims

none (landlocked)

Climate
Temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers

Natural Hazards

Landslides; avalanches; earthquakes

Environment Current Issues

Some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe

Environment International Agreements

Party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography Note

Landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere
Year

Map Reference

  • Europe

Irrigated Land 2000

  • 457 sq km

Area 2004

  • Total
    83,870 sq km
  • Land
    82,444 sq km
  • Water
    1,426 sq km

Coastline

  • 0 km

Geographical Coordinates

  • 47 20 N, 13 20 E

Land use 2004

  • Arable Land
    16.91%
  • Permanent Crops
    0.86%
  • Other
    82.23%

Terrain

  • In the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping

Elevation

  • Lowest Point: Neusiedler See 115 m
  • Highest Point: Grossglockner 3,798 m

Land Boundaries

  • Total
    2,562 km
  • Czech Republic
    362 km
  • Germany
    784 km
  • Hungary
    366 km
  • Italy
    430 km
  • Liechtenstein
    35 km
  • Slovakia
    91 km
  • Slovenia
    330 km
  • Switzerland
    164 km

Natural Resources

  • Oil
  • Coal
  • Lignite
  • Timber
  • Iron ore
  • Copper
  • Zinc
  • Antimony
  • Magnesite
  • Tungsten
  • Graphite
  • Salt
  • Hydropower
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