Visiting Austria
For travel guide for Austria and practical advice regarding eating, drinking, shopping, how to get around, price levels on lodging and holiday accomodation
(e.g. hotels, vacation rentals by owner, b&b's, vacation rental homes, holiday villas, condos, cabins, hostels, self-catering cottages) and safety hints
please click here. |
Austria facts, geography & history
Facts
Government: Federal republic.
Population (est.): 8,192,880.
Capital, population (est.): Vienna, 2,042,000.
Language: German (official nationwide); Slovene, Croatian, Hungarian (each official in one region).
Monetary unit: Euro (formerly schilling).
Geography
Austria is a largely mountainous country due to its location in the Alps. The Central Eastern Alps, Northern Limestone Alps and Southern Limestone Alps are
all partly in Austria. Of the total area of Austria (84 000 kmē or 32,000 sq. mi), only about a quarter can be considered low lying, and only 32% of
the country is below 500 metres (1,640 ft). The high mountainous Alps in the west of Austria flatten somewhat into low lands and plains in the east of
the country.
Austria may be divided into 5 different areas. The biggest area are the Austrian Alps, which constitute 62% of Austria's total area. The Austrian
foothills at the base of the Alps and the Carpathians account for around 12% of its area. The foothills in the east and areas surrounding the periphery of
the Pannoni low country amount to about 12% of the total landmass. The second greater mountain area (much lower than the Alps) is situated in the north.
Known as the Austrian granite plateau, it is located in the central area of the Bohemian Mass, and accounts for 10% of Austria. The Austrian portion of
the Viennese basin comprises the remaining 4%.........
Adopted from and read more at:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria
History
If you are interested in this country's history, please take a look
here. |
