Austria enjoys a moderate continental climate: summers are warm and pleasant with cool nights, and winters are sunny, with snow levels high enough for widespread winter sports.
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 km² or 32,000 sq. mi) , only about a quarter can be considered low lying, and only 32% of the country is below 500 meters (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.
Map of Austria
Austria can be divided into five 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 Vienna basin comprises the remaining 4%.
Phytogeographically, Austria belongs to the Central European province of the Circumboreal Region within the Boreal Kingdom. According to the WWF, the territory of Austria can be subdivided into four ecoregions: the Central European mixed forests, Pannonian mixed forests, Alps conifer and mixed forests and Western European broadleaf forests.
Austria was conquered by the Celts, Romans, Lombards, Huns, Bavarians, Goths, French, Germans, and Babenberg. They dominated the country from the 10th to the 13th century.
Their successors were the Habsburg who governed the country up to the 20th century.
In 1806 the Austrian Empire was founded.
The Empire was dismantled with the Napoleonic wars. After Napoleon’s abdication, the House of Habsburg recovered most of its territories.
In 1918 the Habsburg Empire was dissolved after its defeat in World War One.
That same year the German Austria state was declared. One month later the German-Austrian Republic was proclaimed.
The first Republican government was headed by the socialist Karl Renner.
In 1932, Engelbert Dollfuss’s Christian-Social government confronted social democracy and Nazism. The Nazis assassinated him in 1934 in a failed coup d'état.
In 1938 German troops invaded Austria.
In 1945 Austria was divide in 4 zones after Hitler’s fall.
Austria’s Second Republic was governed by conservatives and socialists.
Austria regained full independence in 1955.
In 1970 the Socialist Party (SPO) obtained victory and formed government headed by Bruno Kreisky.
Kreisky resigned after the SPO party lost the power in 1983.
In 1992 Thomas Klestil was elected Austria’s President.
In 1994 Austria became a European Union member.
In 1999, the Libera Party (FPO) became the second strongest party.
In 2004, Heinz Fischer of the Social Democrat Party was elected president.
In 2005 Haider announced the formation of a new political party the AFA (Alliance for the Future of Austria).
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Austria had 8.28 million inhabitants in 2006, a figure that will increase to 8.55 million by 2015 and 8.98 million by 2030. The population of Austria will grow to 9.51 m inhabitants by 2050, 15% more than in 2006. The population is likely to continue to increase in the second half of this century, although not to the same extent as at present.
Capitale: VIENNA
Popolazione: 8.105.000
Superficie: 83.871 Km²
Fuso orario: Stessa ora rispetto all'Italia.
Lingue: La lingua ufficiale è il tedesco, mentre in alcune regioni sono conosciuti anche lo sloveno, il croato e l'ungherese
Religioni: Cattolica e protestante.
Moneta: Euro
Prefisso dall'Italia: 0043
Prefisso per l'Italia: 0039
Telefonia: Le reti GSM 900 e 1800 coprono l'intero Paese. La rete di terza generazione (3G), al contrario, non è ancora diffusa in tutta l'Austria.
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