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Austria

Austria is situated in southern Central Europe, covering a part of the eastern Alps and the Danube region and, although land-locked, it borders on the Mediterranean area. The country has a wide variety of landscape, vegetation and climate, and situated as it is at the heart of a continent, it has always been a junction for communication links between the trade and cultural centers of Europe.

Austria is a federal state with a total area of 32,368 sq. miles (83,858 sq. km) and consists of nine provinces - Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Upper Austria, Vienna and Vorarlberg.More Information on Austria.

Full country name: Republic of Austria
Area: 83,858 sq km
Population: 8.02 million
Capital City: Vienna
People: 97% Germanic origin, 2% Slovene & Croat and 1% Turkish
Language: German, Turkish, Slovenian, Croatian, English
Religion: 88% Roman Catholic, 6% Protestant
Government: federal republic
Head of State: President Heinz Fischer
Head of Government: Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel

History of Austria

Today's Republic of Austria is a small state, whose origins can be traced far back into history. Populated since prehistoric times, Austria's location in the heart of Europe means that it has had its share of the continent's historical developments. It evolved from a border region into a powerful empire and multiracial state, which collapsed at the end of the First World War. In 1918, the small, newly-proclaimed Republic of Austria...More on Austrian History.

Overview of Austrian Economy

GDP: US$227.7 billion
GDP per capita: US$27,900
Annual Growth: 2.9%
Inflation: 1.7%
Major Industries: Machinery, textiles, iron & steel, timber and tourism
Major Trading Partners: EU (esp. Germany, Italy & Hungary), US & Switzerland
Member of EU: Yes

Landscape

The Austrian landscape falls into five main sections:

- Eastern Alps 20,332 sq, miles 62.8%
- Alpine and Carpathian Foothills 3,658 miles 11.3%
- Pannonian Lowlands 3,658 sq. miles 11.3%
- Vienna Basin 1,424 sq. miles 4.4%
- Granite and Gneiss Highlands
- Bohemian Massif) 3,269 sq. miles 10.1%
-The Grossglockner is Austria's highest mountain (12,465 ft.)

Political System of Austria

- System of Government
- The Austrian Constitution

Climate, Vegetation and Fauna

Austria belongs to the Central European transitional climatic zone. In much of Austria the prevailing winds are westerly and northwesterly. In western Austria temperature variations between day and night and between summer and winter are less pronounced than in the East...More on Austrian Climate and Fauna.


Population:According to latest national census (1991) Austria has a population of 7,795,786...In 1999 3.9 million (48.5%) of the population were male, 4.1 million (51.5%) female...Austrian Population.

Religion:78% of the Austrian population are Roman Catholics, while a further 5% are Protestants, most of them belonging to the Augsburg confession...More.

Culture: Austria is home to an enormous confluence of cultural riches from architecture to classical music, philosophy and literature...More about Culture of Austria.


Facts for the Traveler

Visas: EU, US, Canadian, EEA, Israeli, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Singaporean, Australian and New Zealand citizens do not require visas for stays of up to three months. Nationals of African and Arabic countries generally require a visa, also valid for up to three months.
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +1 (Central European Time)
Dialling Code: 43
Electricity: 230V ,50Hz
Weights and measures: Metric

Also Read:Money and Cost Required | List of Public Holidays in Austria

When to Go

Summer sightseeing and winter sports make Austria a year-round destination. In the summer high season (July to August) crowds are bigger and prices higher. Winter sports are in full swing from mid-December to late March. Spring in the Alps is in June, when the Alpine flowers start coating the mountains with color.

Also Read: Getting Around Austria | Austria: Getting There and Away

What to See in Austria

Major Tourist Attractions in Austria
- Vienna: Grandiose Vienna was the showpiece of the all-conquering Habsburg dynasty...
- Eisriesenwelt Caves: Set at an elevation of 1640m (5380ft), these caves are the largest accessible ice caves in the world...
- Grossglockner Road: Grossglockner Road is Austria's premier panorama drama...
- Salzburg: Salzburg's Altstadt (old town), on the south bank of the river, is a Baroque fiesta of churches...
- St Anton: The Arlberg region comprises several linked resorts and offers some of the best skiing in Austria.

Other Tourist Attractions in Austria
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