!!!Flora, Pflanzenwelt

Flora, the Austrian flora is determined by climate, soil type and 
location. In Austria the Central European (Baltic) flora dominates; 
the East and Southeast of the country are classified as  Pannonian 
Climatic Zone; this is especially evident in the Neusiedl Basin with 
the Seewinkel Area ( Halophytes) and in the  Sandy Steppes of the 
Marchfeld Plain in Lower Austria; the south of Austria has 
characteristics of submediterranean flora, the mountainous regions 
contain  Alpine Flora. 11 % of Austria's surface is without 
vegetation. The vegetation period lasts 10 months on average, in the 
mountains 2-7 months.

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The  Woods and Forests account for a large portion of Austria's 
vegetation, with the timber line varying greatly in the Alpine region, 
from above 2,000 m in the Central Alps to only 1,700 m above sea level 
on the north and south edges of the Alps. The shrub region is located 
above the timber line and, in turn, gives way to the rock and ice 
region. Different species of algae occasionally colour the glaciers' 
ice blood red. The Alpine pasture regions have in many cases been 
cleared so often that the timber line has receded.

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The forests of the floodlands alongside the larger rivers contain 
diverse vegetation determined only by its ability to survive in that 
particular soil; it is made up of alders, willows, black and silver 
poplars, ash trees, elm trees and thick underwood with clematis. The 
gradual clearing of floodland forests has also had an impact on the 
natural landscape, changing it into a cultivated area ( Agriculture). 
Nature reserves have been established to preserve and protect the 
untouched natural areas for later generations ( National Parks).

!Literature
Catalogus Florae Austriae: J. Nevole, Die Wald- und 
Steppenflora am Ostrande des Wiener Beckens, 1934; G. Wendelberger, 
Die Vegetation des Neusiedler-See-Gebietes, 1959; H. Mayer, Waelder 
des Ostalpenraumes, 1974; W. Adler, K. Oswald and R. Fischer, 
Exkursionsflora von Oesterreich, 1994.


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