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. The Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 and Austria's entry into the EU in 1995 have altered the meaning of this neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country, Austria entered the EU Economic and Monetary Union in 1999.

Location

Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia

Area Comparative

About the size of South Carolina; slightly more than two-thirds the size of Pennsylvania

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

Population Distribution

The northern and eastern portions of the country are more densely populated; nearly two-thirds of the populace lives in urban areas

Natural Hazards

Landslides; avalanches; earthquakes

Geography Note

Note 1: 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

Note 2: the world's largest and longest ice cave system at 42 km (26 mi) is the Eisriesenwelt (Ice Giants World) inside the Hochkogel mountain near Werfen, about 40 km south of Salzburg; ice caves are bedrock caves that contain year-round ice formations; they differ from glacial caves, which are transient and are formed by melting ice and flowing water within and under glaciers

Year

Map Reference

  • Europe

Irrigated Land 2016

  • 382 sq km

Area 2022

  • Total
    83,871 sq km
  • Land
    82,445 sq km
  • Water
    1,426 sq km

Coastline

  • 0 km

Geographical Coordinates

  • 47 20 N, 13 20 E

Land use 2022

  • Agricultural Land
    38.4%
  • Arable Land
    16.5%
  • Permanent Crops
    0.8%
  • Permanent Pasture
    21.1%
  • Forest
    47.2%
  • Other
    14.4%

Terrain

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

Elevation

  • Highest Point: Grossglockner 3,798 m
  • Lowest Point: Neusiedler See 115 m
  • Mean Elevation: 910 m

Land Boundaries

  • Total
    2,524 km
  • Czech Republic
    402 km
  • ; Germany
    801 km
  • ; Hungary
    321 km
  • ; Italy
    404 km
  • ; Liechtenstein
    34 km
  • ; Slovakia
    105 km
  • ; Slovenia
    299 km
  • ; Switzerland
    158 km

Natural Resources

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