Location Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia

Geographic coordinates 47 20 N, 13 20 E

Map references Europe

Area
total: 83,858 sq km
water: 1,120 sq km
land: 82,738 sq km

Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maine

Land boundaries
total: 2,562 km
border countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 35 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 330 km, Switzerland 164 km

Coastline 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims none (landlocked)

Climate temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain in lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional showers

Terrain in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m
highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m

Natural resources iron ore, oil, timber, magnesite, lead, coal, lignite, copper, hydropower

Land use
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 82% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 457 sq km (2000 est.)

Natural hazards landslides; avalanches; earthquakes

Environment - current issues 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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

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

NOTE: The information regarding Austria on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Austria Geography 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Austria Geography 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.