GeoFroggy

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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

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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

Austria