There is an airport in the capital of each land. The main marinas are located in Linz and near Vienna. The largest cities are Vienna, Graz, Linz and Salzburg.
Austria, whose territory is elongated in the form of a wedge, strongly narrowing to the west, takes up little space on the map. Its area is 83.8 thousand km 2. It contributes to its communication with other European countries, of which it directly borders on seven. The most important in terms of economic potential and the most densely populated eastern part of the country borders on the Czech Republic and Slovakia, in the north with, in the southeast with. This provides Austria with favorable - geographical conditions for mutually beneficial trade with neighboring countries. To the west, Austria borders on and is closely connected with it. In the northwest and south, and adjoin it.
The position in the center of Europe makes Austria a crossroads of a number of trans-European meridional routes (from the Scandinavian and Central European states through the Brenner and Semmering Alpine passes to Italy and other countries). Serving the transit traffic of goods and passengers gives Austria certain income in foreign currency. In addition, as it is easy to establish on a physical map, the state borders of Austria for the most part coincide with natural boundaries - mountain ranges or . Only with Hungary, and (for a short distance) they pass almost on flat terrain.
When our compatriot, on his way to Austria by train, crosses the Czech-Austrian border in the northeastern corner of the country, he is somewhat disappointed. Where is Alpine Austria? All around, as far as the eye can see, is a flat, like a table, treeless plowed plain. Here and there glimpse green gardens and vineyards, brick houses and solitary trees on the borders and along the roads. and rolling lowlands extend far south from here along the entire border with Hungary and occupy 20% of the territory. But having reached Vienna, we find ourselves in a more typical natural environment for Austria: mountains, Vienna (Wienerwald) - the northeastern outpost of the mighty Alps and an elevated, hilly, wide and open valley, noticeably rising in a westerly direction. If you climb one of the peaks of the Vienna Woods, for example, Kahlenberg (“Bald Mountain”), then far to the north and northwest in a blue haze beyond the Danube you can see low, ridged, forested, granite ridges of Sumava, only some of the peaks of which rise somewhat above 700 meters. This ancient hill occupies 0.1 of the country's territory. Undoubtedly - dominating in Austria, they (together with the foothills) occupy 70% of the country's area. This is the Eastern Alps. So it is customary to call the part of the Alpine, lying to the east of the valley, along which state border co . What is the difference between the Eastern Alps and the Western Alps? To the east of the Rhine fault, the Alpine ranges take on a latitudinal direction, begin to diverge as if like a fan and decline. The Eastern Alps are wider and lower than the Western Alps, more accessible. There are fewer glaciers here, and the largest ones are about half as long as in Switzerland. In the Eastern Alps there are more and especially forests, and the Eastern Alps are much richer than the Western.
If you cross the Alps from north to south, it is easy to see that the geological structure and composition of their constituents is located symmetrically with respect to the axial zone. This zone is the highest and most powerful group of ridges covered with glaciers and snows, among which stand out the High Tauern with the highest point of the country - the two-headed peak Glosglockner ("Big Zvonar"), reaching 3997 m; Ötztal, Stubai, Zillerthai Alps. All of them, together with the ridges adjacent to the west and east, are composed of solid crystalline rocks - granites, gneisses, crystalline schists.
The largest - Pastertze - has a length of about 10 km and an area of 32 km 2. To the north and south of the axial zone lie ridges composed of solid sedimentary rocks, mainly limestone and dolomite: Lichtal Alps, Karwendel, Dachstein, Hochshvat and other ridges of the Northern Limestone Alps up to the Vienna Woods mentioned above at the extreme
northeast. Unlike the peaked peaks of crystalline ridges, limestone mountains are giant blocks with more or less flat, slightly inclined surfaces and almost sheer or even overhanging slopes. The years are mostly bare, there are dips, caves and other forms of karst formed by melted rainwater in soluble limestones and dolomites.
The peripheral zone of the Alps is formed by low, soft-shaped peaks and slopes of the Prealps, composed of loose sedimentary rocks. And within Austria, this zone is well expressed in the north, and in the south it is absent. One of the features of the Alps is that they are dissected by deep and wide transverse valleys, due to which the deep parts of the Alps are relatively easily accessible, and low convenient passes make it possible to cross the country from north to south without much difficulty in a number of places. Thus, the famous Brenner Pass has a height of 1371 m, and the Semmering Pass - 985 m. It is no coincidence that roads have long been laid through the Alpine passes, some of them without tunnels.
Full official form of the name of the state: Republic
Form of government: Federal Republic
Membership in international organizations: is a member of the UN (since 1955) and is a member of a number of UN specialized agencies (UNESCO, UNIDO, WHO, FAO, IFAD, ILO, ICAO, ITU, UPU, WIPO, WMO, IAEA, IBRD, IFC, IMF, MAP, etc. ). is a member of the EU, WTO, OECD, OSCE, CE, CEI, EBRD, Interpol and other organizations
Square: 83,879 km² (114th in the world)
Border: total length 2562 km
* in the north with the Czech Republic - 362 km,
* in the northeast with Slovakia - 91 km,
* in the east with Hungary - 366 km,
* in the south with Slovenia - 330 km and Italy - 430 km,
* in the west with Liechtenstein - 35 km and Switzerland - 164 km,
* in the northwest with Germany - 784 km
Population: 8,401,940 people (2011, census) (94th in the world)
Population density: 101.4 people/km² (80th in the world)
Capital: Vienna
: 9 lands
Official language: German
Currency: Euro
Internet domain:.at
Timezone:(UTC+1, summer UTC+2)
Telephone code:+61
OKSM codes: AU (alpha-2) AUS (alpha-3) 040 (digital code)
Geographical position
Flora and fauna
The country is rich forests(47% of the entire territory). For Austrian flora characteristic oak-beech forest in the valleys, and at an altitude of more than 500 m - beech-spruce mixed forest. Above 1200 m, spruce predominates, larch and cedar are found. In the foothills alpine meadows.
Fauna- typical Central European. There are roe deer, hare, deer, pheasant, partridge, fox, marten, badger, squirrel. The surroundings of Lake Neusiedl are unique protected nesting sites for birds of various species. In high mountainous areas The composition of the fauna of the Eastern Alps is typically alpine.
Political system
Legislature
The highest body of legislative power and the body of people's representation- bicameral Federal Assembly, consisting of the National Council (NC) and the Federal Council (Bundesrat). Joint meetings of the Federal Assembly are held when the president is sworn in and to decide whether to declare war. It may also call a referendum to remove the president.
Legislative functions are performed by the National Assembly (together with the Bundesrat), elected for 4 years in general direct elections by secret ballot. The leadership of the National Assembly is carried out by the President of the National Assembly, as well as the Second President of the National Assembly and the Third President of the National Assembly. These three presidents form the college and act as federal president when he is unable to do so.
Representation of political parties in the National Council
The second chamber of the Austrian Parliament is the Bundesrat. Its 64 members represent 9 federal states in proportion to their population (for example, Lower - 12, and Vorarlberg and Burgenland - 3 each). Members of the Bundesrat are elected and delegated by the Landtags for 4 or 6 years. The Bundesrat can protest the law, and then the National Council votes again with a larger quorum. The President of the Bundesrat is elected in turn alphabetical order from each land for a period of six months.
Representation of political parties in the Federal Council
Elections to all bodies of popular representation shall be universal, direct, free and equal by secret ballot. The right to vote is granted to all citizens who have reached the age of 18. Participation in presidential elections is mandatory. Elections to the National Assembly are held according to the proportional system (three-stage proportional system: 1 vote for a certain party list, inside the list - for a certain candidate in the regional and land constituencies). In the National Assembly there are parties that have won a regional mandate or received 4% of the votes across the board.
executive power
Supreme body of executive power- federal government. Formed on February 28, 2003 from representatives of the ANP and the APS, the government consists of 11 federal ministries: social welfare, generations and consumer protection (Minister Vice-Chancellor H. Haupt, APS); foreign affairs; internal affairs; justice; national defense; finance; economy and labor; agriculture and forestry, environment and water management; health and women's affairs; transport, innovation and technology; education, science and culture.
The government is headed by the Federal Chancellor. He forms the cabinet and coordinates its work. When making decisions, the principle of unanimity applies. The chancellor must take into account the opinion of the vice-chancellor, whose role in the Austrian coalition government is great.
Heads of Government (Federal Chancellors)
Judicial branch
Administrative-territorial division
The Austrian Federation consists of 9 lands with their own parliament (Landtag), constitution and government. The Lower and Upper lands lie on both sides of the Danube, while Salzburg, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Carinthia and Styria are wholly or mostly in the Alps; Burgenland is located on the outskirts of the Middle Danube Plain in the east of the country. The city of Vienna - the capital - is administratively equated with the lands.
Population
Cities
The largest cities: Vienna, Graz (238 thousand people), Linz (203 thousand people), Salzburg (144 thousand people), Innsbruck (118 thousand people). The share of the urban population is 60%.
National composition
Ethnic composition The population is homogeneous, about 98% are German-speaking Austrians. In addition, there are 6 recognized national minorities: Croats, Slovenes, Czechs, Slovaks, Hungarians, Gypsies (about 300 thousand people in total).
The number of foreigners according to the 2001 census is 707 thousand people. (8.8%), according to estimates - more than 760 thousand, of which 45% are citizens of the former Yugoslavia.
Economic and geographical position
The Republic of Austria - Austria is a state located in the center of Europe. The territory of the country is surrounded by land on all sides. The state borders: on the Czech Republic (in the north); with Slovakia (in the northeast); with Hungary (in the east); with Italy and Slovenia (in the south); with Switzerland and Liechtenstein (in the west) and with Germany (in the northwest).
Austria - union state. It consists of:
- Lower and Upper Austria,
- Styria,
- Burgerland,
- Carinthia,
- Vorarlberg,
- Tyrol,
- Vein,
- Salzburg.
The territory of Austria is elongated in the form of a wedge. total area territory is 83.8 thousand square meters. km.
The main marinas of the country are located near Vienna and in Linz. Largest cities: Vienna, Linz, Graz, Salzburg.
Geographic location favors development economic ties with neighboring states.
Austria is a crossroads for a number of trans-European traffic flows.
natural conditions
The natural features of Austria are largely predetermined by the presence of the mountain system of the Eastern Alps on the territory of the country. Mountain ranges occupy up to 70% of the entire territory of the country, most of which is represented by the Eastern Alps. The Eastern Alps are subdivided into: the Salzburg Alps and the North Tyrol Alps (in the north) and the Karnik and Zillertal Alps (in the south). High Taeurn is the most powerful mountain range in the country. Mount Grossglockner - highest point countries (3797 m).
Pasterze is the largest glacier in the Eastern Alps (more than 10 km long).
The Stubai, Ötztal and Zillertal Alps are a ridged granite-gneiss zone of mountains. Alpine landforms are pronounced here - steep-walled valleys and sharp ridges. To the south and north of the ridge zone stretch the Limestone Alps, in the northern regions passing into the Prealps, which descend to the Danube. The Eisriesenwelt Ice Cave is located in the Tennengebirge mountains. Prealps - ridged low mountains overgrown with forest.
On the left side of the Danube, there is a part of the old Bohemian massif - the southern spurs of the Shumava, up to 500 m high (in some places the height reaches 1000 m).
1/5 of the entire area of the country is occupied by flat territories and hilly lowlands: the Danube part of Austria, part of the Middle Danube Plain. There are large areas of fertile land here.
The climate is moderate. In the western parts of the country, the influence of the Atlantic can be traced. In the eastern regions and in the mountains, the climate is more continental.
The climatic conditions of the plains are warm and humid. The average temperature in July is +20º C. The winter is mild, average temperature January - +1-5º C. The average annual rainfall is 700-900 mm.
For every 100m you climb, the average temperature drops by 0.5-0.6º C.
Snow is found at an altitude of 2500-2800 m. Summer in the mountains is windy, damp, cold, sleet often falls. In winter, huge layers of snow accumulate on the slopes of the mountains, which often form avalanches.
Remark 1
characteristic feature mountainous regions of the country is an abundance of clean fresh water, which accumulates during the main part of the year in the form of glaciers and snows, and in summer flows down to the Danube and forms lake basins.
Natural resources
Water resources. largest river countries - the Danube. The most full-flowing river is in the summer (due to the melting of snow and ice in mountainous areas). The tributaries of the Danube - Salzach, Inn, Drava, Ends - carry a large hydropower potential. Some of these rivers are used for timber rafting. In the northern foothills of the Alps and in the Klagenfurt Basin (in the south) there are many deep lakes glacial origin. largest lake- Bodenskoye - partly belongs to Austria. The Krimml waterfalls are among the largest waterfalls in the world. Mineral springs- Bad Ischl, Baden.
forest resources. Forests occupy almost 2/3 of the country's territory. The forests are most common in the mountains. Mountain forests are the national wealth of Austria.
Minerals. The main minerals of the country are: oil and natural gas (Vienna Basin), brown coal (Upper Austria, Styria), magnesite (Feitsch, Styrian Alps). On the territory there are deposits of iron ore (Eisenerz region, Mount Erzberg; Carinthia, Huttenberg), lead-zinc ores (Klagenfurt, Bleiberg region, etc.), copper ores (Tirol, Mitterberg). Salt (Salzkammergut), marble, graphite, feldspar, granite, limestone, kaolin are mined in the country.
Recreational resources. Austrian Alps - popular place recreation for skiers. The most visited resorts of the provinces: Tyrol, Salzburg, Carinthia. Tourists visit Styria and Vorlarlberg. Resorts where you can combine relaxation and wellness procedures (at thermal springs): Bad Hofgastein, Bad Gastein in the Gastein Rahl region. Comfortable temperatures, clean air, beautiful landscapes attract mountain tourists and other vacationers.
Flora and fauna
foothills and lower regions The slopes of the mountains are covered with broad-leaved tree species - beech, oak, hornbeam forests. Above are mixed beech-spruce and coniferous forests, mostly fir. Above 1200 m there are larch, spruce, cedar. The zone of subalpine meadows - matts - is located above the forest belt and is distinguished by an abundance of tall-grass representatives at first, and after - short-grass - alpine meadows - alms. In the belt of eternal snow and ice, you can find a stunted plant - silver edelweiss.
The vegetation cover of the plain-hilly territories of the country has been almost completely changed under the influence of the anthropogenic factor. Most of the land has been plowed up, leaving small oak and beech groves.
The fauna of Austria is Central European. In the highlands - typically alpine. In protected areas in the forest mountain ranges live: red deer, roe deer, elk, brown bear, mountain sheep, chamois, mountain goats, alpine marmot, mountain eagle, black grouse, capercaillie, partridge.
On the plains there are hares, foxes, rodents. In the steppe region near Lake Neusiedler See, there is a purple heron.
