Austria: Geography#
| Location | Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia |
|---|---|
| Geographic Coordinates | 47 20 N, 13 20 E 47.333332,13.333333 |
| Area | total: 83,871 sq km land: 82,445 sq km water: 1,426 sq km [Verified in 8 databases] |
| Land boundaries | total: 2,524 km border countries: 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 |
| Coastline | 0 km (landlocked) |
| Elevation Extremes | lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m |
| Highest Mountains | Due to difference in mountain rankings taken from two data sources we are listing here both lists : According to Wolfram: Grossglockner 3798 m; Wildspitze 3772 m; Weisskugel 3739 m; Grossvenediger 3674 m; Similaun 3606 m According to Geonames: Großglockner 3798 m; Wildspitze 3774 m; Palla Bianca 3738 m; Großvenediger 3662 m; Ramolkogel 3550 m Attempted Explanation: The mountains ranked 1 and 2 are undisputed. Both have secondary peaks (Kleinglockner, Southern Wildspitze) with both 3770 m but are usually no considered separate mountains. Hence Weisskugel (whose Italian name is Palla Bianca and can be counted to Austria or Italy, since the peak is at the border) and Großvenediger are rank 3 and 4. Rank 5 is wrong in both lists, since Hinterer Brochkogel (3628) and Hintere Schwärze (3624) are a bit higher than Similaun, the lowest Austrian peak above 3600m. Important Mountains |
| Terrain | in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping |
| Natural Hazards | landslides; avalanches; earthquakes |
| Natural Resource | oil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower |
| Land Use | arable land: 16.25% permanent crops: 0.77% other: 82.98% (2011) |
| Climate | temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers |
| Irrigated Land | 1,170 sq km (2007) |
| Renewable Water Resources | 77.7 cu km (2011) |
| Environment_CurrentIssues | some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Large Cities | Vienna; Graz; Linz; Salzburg; Innsbruck [Verified] Important Cities |
| Geography-note | 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 Important Rivers Important Lakes |