Belarus / 26.02.2023

The political and geographical position of Austria according to the plan. Economic and geographical characteristics of Austria. Medical care and insurance

Austria is world famous for its ski resorts. Beginners and amateurs rest here, professionals train. Excellent conditions for recreation and developed infrastructure attract more and more tourists to Austria every year. The purity of the local lakes and the beauty of nature will amaze the most sophisticated travelers. There really is something to see in Austria - beautiful mountain landscapes, mysterious caves and, of course, the quiet streets of Vienna with cozy cafes and an exquisite menu.
A ticket to Austria is a chance to get in touch with the innermost. A trip to Austria is an opportunity to get to know the country from the inside. The best way to travel around Austria is by train. Railways cover all the cities of the country in a dense network. What is especially convenient, you can buy long-term tickets. This, by the way, is quite profitable. Austria also has a specialized agency that, for a relatively small fee, picks up a passing car for you to hitchhike from one city to another.

Geography

Republic of Austria (Republik Osterreich), a state in Central Europe, in the Danube basin. It borders on the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland. Area: 83849 km2. The capital is Vienna. Major cities Graz, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck. About 3/4 of the country's territory is occupied by the Eastern Alps and their foothills. Altitude up to 3797 m (Grossglockner). Mountain ranges separated by deep longitudinal valleys. In the east of the country - the western part of the Middle Danube Plain, including the Vienna Basin. The climate of the plains and foothills is temperate continental, humid. Main rivers: Danube (350 km) and its tributaries: Inn, Drava, Morava. Large lakes are Constance and Neusiedler-Seewinkel. There are many glacial lakes in the highlands. About 1/2 of the territory of Austria is covered with forests: up to a height of 600-800 m, oak and beech forests alternate with fields, gardens and vineyards: up to 1400-1800 m - mainly coniferous forests, higher - shrubs, alpine meadows. Landscapes are protected in the Neusiedlersee-Seewinkel, Karwendelgebirge and other nature reserves.

Time

Behind Moscow for 2 hours.

Climate

The climate in Austria is temperate. In the western regions of the country, the influence of the Atlantic is noticeable, and in the mountains and in the east it is more continental. The coldest month is January. On the plains in winter, the temperature is mostly slightly negative, in the east of the country it does not fall below +10 degrees, and in mountainous areas frosts down to -15 degrees are noted. Summer in the east of Austria is hot, for example, in Vienna in July and August during the daytime the air warms up to +30 degrees. In the western regions, the summer is warm - the daytime air temperature reaches +21..+23 degrees, at night it is noted up to +13 degrees. In the mountains in the summer months, the air temperature ranges from +25 degrees during the day to +10 degrees at night. The annual rainfall in the east of Austria is about 600 mm, and in the west - up to 2000 mm. They mostly fall during the summer. In the highlands, snow cover lasts up to 8 months a year. Water in local lakes warms up to +25..+27 degrees in summer. The average maximum January temperature in Vienna is approximately +1°C, the average April temperature is +15°C, in July it is up to +25°C, and in October it is about +14°C. In Salzburg and Innsbruck, the temperature is about the same as in the capital, with the exception of winter, when these Alpine cities are somewhat cooler. Inland waters.

Language

The official language is German (with a characteristic Austrian pronunciation). In big cities and resort centers, in hotels, it will not be difficult to find a person who speaks English, but it is advisable to know at least a few German phrases. All announcements on trains and buses are made only in German.

Religion

Religion plays an important role in the life of every Austrian. The approach to religious freedom guaranteed by the constitution is quite interesting: until the child reaches the age of 10, religious preferences are determined by the parents; from 10 to 12 a small citizen has the right to express his opinion, which must be taken into account; and already after 12 years he can freely choose the religion that he likes. The majority of the population of Austria professes the Catholic religion, but 11 more confessions are officially recognized in Austria. According to the 2001 census, 73% of the population is Catholic, 4.7% is Protestant, 4.2% of Austrians profess Islam, and 2.2% Orthodoxy. 12% of the population do not belong to any of the official religious denominations. There are two archbishoprics in the country - Vienna and Salzburg, as well as 7 Catholic dioceses. There are thirteen official holidays in Austria, including ten church holidays.

Population

According to a 2003 estimate, the population of Austria was just over 8 million people. About 9% of the population are foreigners. The main part of the population lives in the lands of Upper and Lower Austria and Styria, as well as in the capital of Austria - Vienna, where almost 20% of the indigenous population is concentrated. In the highlands (Tyrol, Salzburg, Carinthia), the population density is much lower than in large cities.
The indigenous inhabitants of Austria have a mixed origin, characteristic of other European peoples. Nevertheless, the Austrians basically have the features characteristic of the Alpine-Dinaric group.
The urban population is 56%, the population density is 97.6 people per sq. km. Other ethnic groups also live in Austria. Six ethnic groups are officially recognized: Hungarians, Roma, Czechs, Slovaks, Croats, and Slovenes. In the south and east of the country (the lands of Carinthia, Burgenland and Styria) live Slavic minorities, whose representatives speak Slovenian and Croatian.

Electricity

The mains voltage in Austria is 220 volts. Electrical sockets comply with the European standard.

Emergency Phones

Major city codes:
Baden - 2252
Brand - 5559
Vienna - 1
Graz - 316
Salzburg - 662
Innsbruck - 512
Linz - 732
Ferlach - 4227
Fire Department: 122
Police: 133
Ambulance: 144
Transportation of patients:
Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund. Tel.: 891 44
Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe. Tel.: 476 00-0
Patient Care Service in Vienna. 717 18-0, 711 19-0
Red Cross. 17 74
Answering machine with a record of the duty schedule of dentists (duty at night and on weekends): 512 20 78
Information about the nearest pharmacies (opening hours, address, night duty): 1550 (153 50)
Providing medical assistance in case of leakage of toxic substances (information): 406 43 43-0
First aid for animals - the central telephone number of the veterinary service: 531 16
Pharmacy reference - 15-50. If the pharmacy closest to you is closed, the address of the nearest open pharmacy should be posted on the door. If you need a doctor and do not speak German, please contact the hotel staff or, in an emergency, the Russian consulate.

Connection

The country code is 42, when dialing a number within Austria, dial 0 before the city code, when entering the international connection - 00. All Austrian settlements have an automatic direct telephone connection with all European countries. Telephone booths (you can call both with coins and with Telefonkarte cards) are installed in post offices and on the streets (calling from post offices is cheaper). Telephone cards "Telefonkarte" (packed in plastic) are sold at tobacconists or at the post office. Calls on weekdays from 18.00 to 08.00 are 33% cheaper, significant discounts are also valid on weekends and holidays around the clock.

Currency exchange

Currency exchange is possible in banks and specialized exchange offices, as well as in most travel agencies and hotels (with a small surcharge for carrying out an exchange operation) and at main post offices - in large cities they work daily and around the clock. In addition, dollars can be exchanged at ATMs; in this case, banknotes are accepted in denominations of only 10, 20 and 50 USD. Credit cards are accepted in almost all major stores, gas stations, restaurants, cafes and hotels.
For purchases over 75 euros, VAT can be refunded (about 13%). To do this, you need to get a “tax-free” check filled in by the seller with the form “Tax Free for tourist Austria Tax-Free Shopping” or “Europa-Tax-Free Plakette” in the store. The check stamped at customs must be sent to the store or to the duty-free department. VAT refunds can be made in cash directly at customs or by check or bank transfer (fees apply on some items). Banks are open on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8.00 to 12.00 and from 13.30 to 15.00, and on Thursday - from 8.00 to 12.30 and from 13.30 to 17.30. Bank branches at airports and major railway stations are open from 6.30 am to 10.30 pm, including on weekends.

Visa

TYPES OF VISAS
Visa A(airport airside transit) - issued to persons whose purpose of visit is transit to third countries through Austrian international airports. At the same time, this visa gives the right to be in the controlled area of the airport during a transfer from one aircraft to another, but does not allow its holder to leave the transit zone and stay on the territory of Austria.
Visa B(transit visa) - issued to persons whose purpose of visit is transit through the territory of Austria to third countries. This visa gives the right to stay in Austria every time up to 5 days.
Visa C(short stay) - issued to persons whose purpose of visit is tourism, visiting relatives or friends, business trips. This visa entitles you to visit the countries of the Schengen area.
Visa D(national visa) - valid only on the territory of Austria and gives the right to stay in the country from 3 to 6 months without a temporary residence permit or residence permit. This visa entitles you only to transit through other Schengen countries for up to 5 days, but not to stay in them.
Visa processing times
The usual time for consideration of applications and processing of documents in the consular department is from five working days from the date of payment of the consular fee to two weeks. In exceptional cases, it is possible to issue an urgent category C visa - at least three days before the intended trip.
Consular fee
The consular fee for a tourist visa (category C) and a transit visa (category B) is 35 euros, for an urgent visa of category C - 70 euros, for a national Austrian visa (category D or D + C) - 75 euros. The consular fee is paid at the bank in rubles at the exchange rate of the bank. To pay the fee, the consular department issues a payment notice when receiving documents. Upon receipt of ready-made visas, it will be necessary to present this notice with a bank note on the payment made. In case of visa refusal, the fee is non-refundable.
The following categories of citizens are exempted from paying the consular fee:
. close relatives of citizens of the Russian Federation legally residing in Austria;
. close relatives of EU citizens;
. schoolchildren, students of higher educational institutions, graduate students and teachers accompanying them (provided that the purpose of the trip is education);
. children under 6 years old.

Customs regulations

Citizens of foreign countries can bring with them for their personal consumption or as gifts, but not for commercial purposes: 200 pcs. cigarettes or 50 cigars, manila or thin cigars or 250 gr. tobacco (or any combination of them, the total weight of which should not exceed 250 gr.); 2 liters of wine or fruit liqueur or tincture with an ethyl alcohol content of not more than 22%, or any combination of them, but not more than 2 liters, as well as 1 liter of alcohol, the ethyl alcohol content of which does not exceed 22%, or 3 liters of beer and additional 1 liter of other alcoholic beverages. Goods other than those mentioned above can be imported for a total of 175 euros per person. If these goods are imported not by plane, but across the common border with Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, then the maximum amount is reduced to 100 euros. There are no restrictions on the import and export of foreign and local currencies.

Holidays and non-working days

New Year - January 1
Epiphany - January 6
Easter Monday
Labor Day - May 1
Ascension
Whit Monday
Corpus Christi
Dormition
National holiday of the Republic of Austria - October 26
All Saints Day - November 1
Conception of the Virgin Mary - December 8
Christmas - December 25
Saint Stephen's Day - December 26

Transport

Railway
As in Germany, trains of different classes run in Austria: high-speed and local. Letter designations are slightly different:
ICE, IC/EC - high-speed intercity and international trains
D - average between local and fast
E - fast local train
R - local train
The cost depends on the distance, class, number of people and on whether the ticket is one-way or round-trip. As in Germany (and in any other European country, by the way), you must not forget what class your ticket is: the class is written on the car, on the doors of the car compartments, on the walls. In one car there can be departments of the first and second class. The first class is not much different from the second: most often there is a compartment, fewer seats, maybe a table, and most importantly, there are simply fewer people. All trains have soft comfortable seats and a toilet in the car. It is also worth paying attention to whether smoking is allowed in the car - there will be a crossed out image of a cigarette on the outside or not. If you have heavy suitcases and don't want to lug them up the stairs to the platform, look around - chances are there is an elevator nearby that you can safely use.
Buses in Austria
Buses in Austria are very comfortable. The only thing that should not be forgotten is that after 18 hours there may be no flights. Prices are less than the train, but not significantly. For an hour and a half trip, for example from Salzburg to Bad Ischl or from Zell am See to Krimml, you have to pay about 8.50 euros per person.
Buses of the same route may not stop at all stops depending on the time, so if you need intermediate stops, carefully study the schedule. And bus 670 from Krimml to Zell am See goes to the final stop (Zell am See), then to the Mittersill stop (halfway to Zell am See), where you need to transfer to the train.
Taxi
It is best to call by phone from the hotel or from the restaurant where you stayed too long, and you can also find it at special parking lots at railway stations, in the center of large cities, at the airport (it is not customary to “catch” a car on the street: even if you try, no one will stop) . The cost of moving around the city is indicated on the counter + landing payment. When traveling long distances, it is better to negotiate the amount with the driver in advance.
Public transport in Vienna
Vienna has a metro (U), trams, buses and trains (S). The city authorities are constantly modernizing their transport system: now two main stations in Vienna are being rebuilt at once, and elevators are being actively added to the metro. It should be noted that the excessive comfort in the form of elevators greatly spoiled the Viennese residents: you can often see how hefty foreheads or peppy girls, burdened with a maximum of a cell phone, quickly fill the elevator cabin, while an old woman with a wand does not have time to run to his door.
The most convenient transport is the subway. There are stops near almost all strategic tourist points. The second most convenient is the tram. Trams run both very modern and old, similar to ours. I didn’t have to use the bus, but somehow they didn’t come across.
The ticket is bought either from the machine or from the driver. It must be composted in a small box at the entrance.

Tips

Tipping is 5% of the order value, in large restaurants it is customary to leave 10% of the bill. The waiter will definitely return the change on the bill, and after that, in the same napkin, you must leave a tip. You can leave small coins in the bar and cafe. Tipping is not given in street cafes. It is customary for a taxi driver to leave 10% over the counter, you can just leave a change from the change. In the hotel, if you decide to tip, the following general rules apply: the boys who help carry the suitcases can be given 50 cents, the maid receives a tip no lower than about 3 euros per week.

The shops

Shops in Austria are allowed to trade from Monday to Friday from 6.00 to 19.30, and on Saturdays, trading in shops is allowed until 17.00. Actual store hours in Austria vary. Usually shops are open from 8.00 to 18.30, and some of them may be closed for lunch for 1-2 hours. There is no uniformity on this issue. Tourist centers and resorts may have special opening hours for shops. From Monday to Friday until 21.00, and on Saturday and Sunday - until 18.00. Shops at railway stations and airports are open during the hours of the greatest influx of passengers (until approximately 23.00 hours).
One of the best souvenirs from Austria is a bottle of Yaga-te concentrate, which can be bought at any supermarket. It is enough to add four parts of ordinary boiling water to one part of the concentrate, and you get a classic New Year's national drink - "Yaga-te", i.e. "hunting tea". And for lovers of stronger drinks - a classic souvenir from Austria - a bottle of schnapps (fruit moonshine). Real schnapps should be 38% ABV.

National cuisine

meat on the bone - dish number 1 in Austria (up to 17 EUR);
gluwein (Gluewein) - a hot drink consisting of red wine and water (3: 1), cinnamon, spices; fundamentally different from Bavarian mulled wine in the absence of zest and the presence of water (up to 5 EUR);
schnapps by the river! The most pleasant and correct souvenir from Austria is a bottle of fruit moonshine - schnapps. Classic schnapps should be 38% abv (variations affect taste). For a thrill, put a piece of canned pear (if pear schnapps) or peach (if peach schnapps) into a glass; plums are not used in plum schnapps... You will also find more expensive varieties of raspberry schnapps, schnapps from a bouquet of blackberries and wild apples, and so on;
a typical Austrian cocktail - Vodka Red Bull (vodka - redbull) - the Austrians themselves believe that the combination of Smirnov table wine No. 21 with an energy drink gives the body a feeling of weightlessness and flight. It's hard to say how it is with the flight, but the tower is not demolished - it's checked: you can drink. (Between us: making vodka - redbull is better on your own: you buy "Red Bull" in any supermarket, get "krystal" stocks and ... 3:1);
germknedl (Germknoedl) - a lush sweet bun with poppy seeds and sauce (vanilla or fruit);
wheat beer (Weizenbier - weizenbier) - absolutely incomparable taste (up to 3 EUR);
apple pie (Apfel Strudel - strudel apfel) - Served hot in Salzburg and Alpine villages: be careful (up to 9 EUR);
natural sweets "Mozartkugel" ("Mozartkugel") - an enchanting invention of the Salzburg confectionery "Fuerst" - the only place where these and other sweets are still made by hand (in truth, "other sweets" primarily include the best invention of "Fuerst" - sweets "J.-S. Bach"); "genuine" "Mozartkugel" is sold only in silver-blue packaging and contains more marzipan and cocoa than golden-red American fakes (from 0.9 EUR per piece);
cinnamon pancakes (Strauben / Stauben) are simply an exclusive Salzburg treat;
Mozart's favorite beer - Stiegelbreu (up to 2 EUR);
magic soufflé Nockerln / Nockerln - sweet like love, tender like a kiss;
coffee, coffee and more coffee: "Merchant" - a strong double espresso, "ferlengerter" - weaker, "melange" - coffee with milk and whipped cream, "Einspenner" - double mocha in a tall glass.

Attractions

Symbol of Vienna St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom), the patron saint of the Austrian capital, which is over 800 years old. Under the cathedral there are ancient catacombs - the burial place of representatives of the Habsburg dynasty, its interior decoration is simply bewitchingly beautiful, and a Turkish cannonball is embedded in its spire, which fell into the cathedral during the Turkish siege of the city in the 16th century. Opposite the cathedral lies the beautiful Stephansplatz square and the post-modern glass building of the commercial center Haas Haus. On the walls of the Stephansdom you can see the measures of length, size and weight, according to which in the Middle Ages they checked the goods when buying, and from its observation deck a magnificent view of the Danube and Vienna opens. Another symbol of Vienna departs from the square - Graben Street, the "heart of the city", on which such famous sights as the Peitzeuil column, the Sacher Hotel and the Peterskirche church are concentrated. The most fashionable shops are also located here. It is interesting to get acquainted with the nearby Michalerkirche, San Marie am Gestade, Franciskanerkirche, the neo-Gothic City Hall (1872-1883), one of the most beautiful squares in the world - Josefplatz, with the Palace Chapel and Burgtheater located on it (1874-1888), the parliament building (1883), in front of which stands the statue of Pallas Athena, and the famous Vienna Opera (1861-1869) - the venue for the iconic annual Opera Ball.
Pride of Vienna beautiful parks, varied in their appearance and purpose. The Prater is considered the most "popular" park in Vienna (it has been operating since the 18th century) and is famous for the largest Ferris wheel in the world (65 m) and excellent restaurants. Dozens of musical performances and symphony concerts are regularly held in the old Augarten park. The famous Vienna Woods park, located in the vicinity of the capital, in the foothills of the Eastern Alps, is a whole forest area with its own towns and hotels, resorts and thermal springs. Bounded on one side by the picturesque Danube valley and vineyards, and on the other by the famous resort area of Baden and Bad Voslau, the Vienna Woods is a favorite vacation spot for the Viennese and visitors to the country.
Church of St. Ruprecht and the summer residence of the Habsburgs - Schönbrunn Palace, in which more than 1400 rooms and halls. Now the Museum of Weapons, a collection of costumes and horse-drawn carriages "Wagenburg", a beautiful park with fountains, a greenhouse and a zoo are located here. Fine examples of architecture are located on a hill in the southeastern part of the city, the palace of Prince Eugene of Savoy - Belvedere Castle (1714-1723) with the Gallery of Austrian Art of the 19th-20th centuries. (the largest collection of Klimt, Schiele and Kokoschka) and the chambers of Archduke Ferdinand, the baroque Karlskirche (1739) and Stadtpark, the University, the palace of Count Manfeld-Fondi and the Vatican Church.
Salzburg
Salzburg Lakes, Salzburg Cathedral (founded in the 8th century, rebuilt in 1611-1628), surrounded by three squares with a luxurious residence of the prince-archbishops, the Baroque Museum, Salt Mountains, the house in which Mozart was born, Hellburn palaces with a magnificent park, decorated with cracker fountains, and Mirabel, Geerfiedegasse, the Eisriesenwelt cave ("world of ice giants") in Tennengebirge, south of Salzburg. Styria and Carinthia attract with a huge number of medieval castles and majestic nature. Innsbruck: Ambras castle (XVI century), ski resort. Kitzbühel is a resort located in the Tyrolean Alps.

carniche is a well-known sports center and resort located in the very south of Austria. Saalbach and Hinterglemm are the most popular ski resorts. Lech on the Arlberg is a fashionable resort offering the highest service. Baden - a resort with healing hot sulfur springs, located 25 km south of Vienna, has long been popular with crowned heads and artists.

Most Popular ski resorts- Innsbruck, Kitzbühel, Badgasstein, Baden bei Wien, Seefeld, Otztal, Zillertal, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, St. Anton, Zell am See-Kaprun, Galtür, Gaschurn, Stubaital, St. Johann, Pitztal, Carinthia, Salzkammergut , St. Wolfgang, Hintertux.

Resorts

Lakes of Carinthia- Werther See (resorts Sölden, Pertschach, Maria Werth, Krumpendorf), Klopeiner See (resort St. Kanzian), Millstetter See, Ossiacher See, Faaker See.
Lakes of the Salzkammergut- Wolfgang See (resorts of St. Wolfgang, St. Gilgen, Strobl), Mondsee, Traunsee, Attersee and Hallstettersee.
Salzburgerland- Zeller See (resort of Zell am See).
Resort Selden
The Otztal Valley is known for its highest mountain resorts in Austria. Sölden (1,377 m), Vent (1,900 m), Obergurgl (1,930 m), Hochsölden (2,050 m) and Hochgurgl (2,150 m) hold the record for attendance and are second in popularity after Vienna.
Sölden is one of the best ski resorts in Austria. Absolute guarantee of natural snow.
Winter season - from December to April.
Glacier skiing - all year round.
Slopes, slopes, lifts:
Ski area - 1377-3250 m
Elevation difference - 1873 m
Total length of tracks - 150 km
Trails for beginners - 53 km
Trails of medium difficulty - 63 km
Difficult trails - 28 km
Ski route - 6 km
Illuminated trails - 4 km
The longest track - 13.5 km
Summer skiing on the Rettenbach and Tiefenbach glaciers
About 20 restaurants on the mountain.
Modern high-speed lifts, almost all chairs on the glacier have protective caps.
The main ski areas in Sölden are Gaislachkogl (1377-3058 m), Giggijoch (1377-2885 m) and the Golden Gate on two glaciers Rettenbach (1377-3250 m) and Tiefenbach (2796-3250 m).
Resort Sankt Kanzian
St. Kanzian is located on the warmest lake in Austria (the water temperature heats up to +28 degrees).
There is everything for your outdoor activities: 65 tennis courts, a tennis hall, an 18-hole golf course, three surf schools, a diving school, minigolf, fishing, cycling, horseback riding ...
There is never a dull moment in Sankt Kanzian: weekly children's parties, fireworks on the lake, daily dance and entertainment programs in all hotels. Klopeiner See - the town is located on the shore of the lake - Klopeiner See.
It is surrounded on all sides by fields, meadows and mountain forests. Klopeinersee is the warmest bathing lake in Austria. The water temperature in summer reaches 26-28 degrees. The water in this lake is so pure that you can drink it.
Zell am See
Zell am See (757 m) and Kaprun (786 m) are located in the Pinzgau region of Salzburg and together form the famous European Sports Region (ESR).
ESR is the most popular holiday destination for a huge number of fans of high mountain landscapes and slopes, as well as the unique alpine atmosphere that prevails here all year round.
The region offers what is most important for any skier, both beginner and professional. Residents of the region say: “We are not talking about snow, we guarantee it!”
The skiing season is from December to April.
Slopes, slopes, lifts
Scheme of the skiing region (202.1 kb)
The height of the resort - 726 m above sea level
Ski area - 750-2000 m
Elevation difference - 1250 m
Length of trails - 75 km
Trails for beginners - 25 km
Trails of medium difficulty - 25 km
Difficult trails - 25 km
The longest track - 6.2 km
Number of lifts - 28
The total capacity of the lifts is 39,695 people per hour
Cross-country ski trails - 20 km
Toboggan runs - 4
Snowboard slopes -2
Fan Park -1
Half pipes - 2
Snowboard
Kitzsteinhorn: fun park, half-pipe on the route from the Alpin Center to Langvieboden.
Schmittenhöh: Halfpipe (100m) under the Glocknerbahn.
Piertschach
Pörtschach is a resort town on the northern shore of Lake Wörthersee in Carinthia. The resort is located on a small peninsula with three cozy bays, between Velden and Klagenfurt. Pörtshach is famous for its flower-filled promenade and the 14th-century Leonstein Castle, which was visited by I. Brahms. This is a great place to relax and practice all kinds of sports: rowing, surfing, parasailing, tennis, golf, hiking and cycling. The abundance of fish in the local waters attracts a huge number of people who want to fish successfully. For over 50 years, Pörtschach has been a kind of "tennis Mecca" - each hotel has one or two tennis courts, and the Seehotel Werzer-Astoria complex has one of the largest and best tennis centers in Austria, consisting of 11 magnificent courts.

1.Business card

2. EGP of Austria

3. Historical reference.

4. Economy of the country.

5. Nature

3) Natural resources

4) Minerals

5) Animal world

6) Environment

6. Population.

1) Ethnic composition

2) Demographic situation

3) Population distribution structure

4) Religion

5) Education

6) Media

7) National holidays

8) Taxation.

7. Economy.

8. Geography of foreign economic relations

Political and economic position of Austria.

Austria - a small country located in the center of Europe, consists of 9 federal states: Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Burgerland, Styria, Carinthia, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Vienna and Salzburg. The city of Vienna - the capital of Austria - is administratively equated with the lands. The division of the country into lands has developed historically: almost every land is a former independent feudal possession. In fact, modern Austria is a centralized state.

Austria has no access to the sea. Here on the area of 84 thousand square meters. km is home to about 11 million people, i.e. less than in Greater London. The geographical position of Austria contributes to its communication with other European countries, of which it directly borders on seven: in the east - the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, in the west - Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the Principality of Liechtenstein. This provides Austria with favorable transport and geographical conditions for mutually beneficial trade with neighboring countries.

The territory of Austria is elongated in the form of a wedge, strongly narrowed in the west and expanded in the east. This configuration of the country resembles, according to some, a bunch of grapes.

The largest cities are Vienna, Graz, Linzi Salzburg.

The position in the center of Europe makes Austria a crossroads of a number of trans-European meridional routes (from the Scandinavian countries and the states of central Europe through the Brenner and Semmering Alpine passes to Italy and other countries). The service of transit transportation 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 rivers. Only with Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia (on a short stretch) they pass almost 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 the Alpine Austria? All around, as far as the eye can see, is a flat, like a table, treeless plowed plain. In some places, green islands of orchards and vineyards flash, brick houses and lonely trees on the borders and along the roads. Plains and hilly 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, the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald) - the northeastern outpost of the mighty Alps and the elevated, hilly, wide and open Danube valley, which rises noticeably 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 the low, wooded, granite ridges of Sumava, only some peaks of which rise slightly higher than 700 meters. This ancient hill occupies 1/10 of the country's territory.

Undoubtedly, the Alps are the dominant landscape 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 mountain system lying to the east of the Upper Rhine valley, along which the state border with Switzerland passes here. What is the difference between the Eastern Alps and the Western Alps? To the east of the Rhine fault, the Alpine ridges take on a latitudinal direction, begin to diverge as if like a fan and decline. Eastern Alpyshire and below Western, they are 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 meadows and especially forests, and the Eastern Alps are much richer in minerals than the Western ones.

If you cross the Alps from north to south, it is easy to see that the geological structure and composition of the constituent rocks are 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 the High Tauern stands out with the highest point of the country - the two-headed peak Glosglockner (“Big Ringer”), 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 glacier - Pasterze - has a length of about 10 km and an area of 32 km2.

To the north and south of the axial zone lie ridges composed of hard sedimentary rocks, mainly limestone and dolomites: the Lichtal Alps, Karwendel, Dachstein, Hochshvat and other ridges of the Northern Limestone Alps up to the Vienna Forest mentioned above in the extreme northeast. Unlike peaked peaks of crystalline ranges, 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 sinkholes, caves and other forms of karst relief formed by melted rainwater in soluble limestones and dolomites.

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 convenient low 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 railways have long been laid through the Alpine passes, and some of them without tunnels.

Historical reference.

In antiquity and the Middle Ages, many different tribes passed through the lands of modern Austria, located at the crossroads of important trade routes, the main of which was the Danube route. Some of them left their mark

in the ethnogenesis of the Austrian people; a noticeable influence on the formation of the Austrian ethnic community was exerted by the Celts, who settled here in the 5th-6th centuries BC.

The conquest of Austrian lands by the Romans, which began in the 2nd century BC, led to a gradual Romanization of the local Celtic population. In administrative terms, these lands were included in different Roman provinces: Pannonia - in the east, Noricum - in the center, Rezia - in the West.

Of great importance for the history of Austria was the settlement of its lands in the centuries by Germanic (Bavars, Alemans) and Slavic (mainly Slovenes) tribes. On the basis of the predominantly Germanic tribes of the Bavarians and Alemans, who merged with some Slavic and remnants of the Celtic and other tribes of the early Middle Ages, an Austrian ethnic community was formed.

In the 7th-8th centuries, the lands of present-day Austria did not yet constitute a single whole, but were part of various European states: the western and northern (with a German population) - in the Bavarian Duchy, the eastern (with a Slavic population) - in the Slavic state of Carantania. At the end of the 8th century, both of these states were included in the Frankish Empire of Charlemagne, and after its partition in 843, they became part of the German East Frankish kingdom.

In the 7th-10th centuries, the lands of modern Austria were subjected to devastating raids by nomads, first by the Bavarians (VIII century), and then by the Hungarians (IX-X centuries).

In the second half of the 10th century, the Bavarian Eastern Mark was formed on the territory of modern Upper and Lower Austria, which became known as Ostarrichi (Austria). She later became the core of the Austrian state.

In the XII century, Austria, like many other European states, became part of the "Holy Roman Empire".

In the 15th century, almost all of its modern lands were included in the Austrian state, with the exception of Salzburg and Burgenland. However, this political association was still unstable, its borders often changed, and the regions that were part of the state were connected only by dynastic ties.

In the XII-XV centuries, Austria was one of the economically prosperous countries in Europe. The development of feudalism in Austria was distinguished by some features. Until the 15th century, the feudal dependence of the peasants was much weaker in it than in neighboring countries; the enslavement of the peasants was slower here due to the long-term displacement of the population and the raids of nomads. In the mountain pastoral regions, especially in Tyrol, a free peasantry remained, united in rural communities.

In the 15th century, Austria became not only the economic, but also the political center of the "Holy Roman Empire", and its dukes - the Habsburgs - became emperors. Against the backdrop of a general economic and political upsurge, the culture of medieval Austrian cities also flourished, primarily Vienna, then Graz and Linz. The foundation in 1365 of the University of Vienna was of great importance.

In the 16th century, Austria led the struggle of the countries of southeastern Europe against the Turkish invasion. Taking advantage of the weakening of the Czech Republic and Hungary in the wars with the Turks, Austria included most of their territories in its possessions, starting from that time to turn into a multinational state.

During this period, the country's economy is becoming stronger and developing. In the mining industry (the extraction of ruzhelez and lead in Tyrol, Styria, Upper Austria), already in the 16th century, the emergence of capitalist relations began. The first manufactories appeared in the production of velvet, silk, and luxury goods.

In the XVII-XVIII centuries, the Austrian Habsburgs continued to expand their possessions: the entire territory of Hungary, almost all of Croatia and Slavia, the Southern Netherlands, some regions of Italy, a number of Polish and Ukrainian lands were annexed to Austria. In terms of its area, Austria began to occupy the second place in Europe after Russia.

In the XVIII-XIX centuries, feudal-absolutist Austria was a stronghold of Catholic reaction in Europe. She was the initiator of the intervention against revolutionary France, and later participated in all anti-French coalitions, led the struggle against the revolutionary movement in Europe.

The defeat of Napoleonic France in the European wars of the early 19th century further strengthened the external position of Austria. By decision of the Vienna Congress of 1814-1815. she was not only returned the lands conquered by Napoleon, but also given the region of Northern Italy in exchange for the southern Netherlands.

In the second half of the 19th century, Austria lost its hegemony in European affairs. The struggle with Prussia for supremacy among the German states ended with the defeat of Austria in the Austro-Prussian war of 1866. The creation of a union of German states (1867) took place under the auspices of Prussia and without the participation of Austria.

In 1867, Austria became the dualistic monarchy of Austria-Hungary. The Austrian and Hungarian ruling classes entered into an alliance for the exploitation and suppression of the resistance of other peoples.

At the end of the 19th century - the beginning of the 20th century, changes took place in the foreign policy of Austria: not having achieved hegemony among the German states that were united by Prussia in 1871, Austria launched an attack on the Balkans, which led to an aggravation of relations with Russia and rapprochement with Germany. In 1882, the so-called Tripartite Alliance was concluded between Austria-Hungary, Germany and Italy, which acted in the First World War of 1914 against the Entente countries.

In 1918, the Austro-Hungarian monarchy broke up into three states - Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary: in addition, part of its lands became part of Romania, Yugoslavia and Poland.

In 1938, Nazi Germany occupied Austria. The entire economy of the country was subordinated to the military needs of Germany. Austria participated in World War II as part of Germany.

In March 1945, Soviet troops crossed the border of Austria. On April 13 they entered Vienna and shortly thereafter the Soviet Army and allied forces liberated the entire country.

After the defeat of Nazi Germany, under an agreement between the USSR, the USA, England and France, the entire territory of Austria was temporarily divided into 4 zones of occupation.

At the initiative of the Soviet Union in 1955, the State Treaty was signed on the restoration of an independent and democratic Austria and the occupation was terminated. In the same year, the Austrian Parliament adopted a law on the permanent neutrality of Austria.

A country's economy.

Austria is one of the most developed countries in Europe. In recent years, the country's economy has been developing at an accelerated pace. The largest foreign investor is Germany (about 30% of investments). The volume of industrial production increased in 1995 by 4.6% and reached 334.5 billion shillings.

The leading branches of industry are mechanical engineering, metallurgy, as well as chemical, pulp and paper, mining, textile and food industries. One-third of the volume of industrial production falls on the state sector of the economy.

Austria has a productive agriculture. Almost all types of agricultural products necessary to provide the population are produced. The most important branch of agriculture is animal husbandry.

Foreign tourism is one of the most profitable sectors of the Austrian economy. Annual receipts from foreign tourism are over 170 billion shillings.

Austria trades with more than 150 countries worldwide. About 65% of exports and 68% of imports come from the countries of the European Union. The main trading partners are Germany (40%), Italy, Switzerland. Russia accounts for only 1.5%.

The gold and foreign exchange reserves of the country in 1994 amounted to 218 billion shillings.

In terms of per capita income, Austria ranks 9th in the world. The rise in prices for consumer goods in 1995 amounted to 2.3%. The unemployment rate was 6.5%.

NATURE.

1.Relief. The main thing that determines the natural features of almost the entire territory of Austria is the Alps. />Their white-headed peaks are visible in the country from everywhere. Almost ¾ of the country is occupied by the Eastern Alps, which are lower and wider than the Western ones. The border between them coincides with the western border of Austria and runs along the upper Rhine valley. The Eastern Alps have fewer glaciers and more forests and meadows than the Western Alps. The highest point in Austria - Mount Grossglockner in the High Tauern - does not reach 4 thousand meters. (3797 m). From the highest peaks flows the largest glacier of the Eastern Alps - Pasierce - over 10 km long. Covered with snow and ice and other peaks of the crested granite-gneiss zone of the mountains - the Ötztal, Stubai, Zillertal Alps. In this crystalline zone, the so-called alpine landforms are most pronounced - sharp ridges, steeply walled valleys plowed by glaciers.

To the north and south of the ridge zone is the well-known ice zone - Eisriesenwelt (the world of ice giants) in the Tennengebirge mountains, south of Salzburg. The very names of the mountain ranges speak of the inhospitability and wildness of these places: Totes-Gebirge (meter-high mountains), Hellen-Gebirge (hellish mountains), etc. The limestone Alps to the north pass into the Pre-Alps, descending in steps to the Danube. These are low ridged mountains, overgrown with forests, in some places their slopes are plowed up, and wide sunny valleys are quite densely populated.

If the geologically young Alps are appropriate to compare with the Caucasus, then the mountains lying on the other, left side of the Danube, resemble the Urals. These are the southern spurs of the Šumava, part of the ancient Bohemian massif, almost to the base, destroyed by time. The height of this border hill is only 500 meters and only in a few places does it reach 1000 meters.

Areas with a calm relief, flat or hilly lowlands occupy only about 1/5 of the country's area. This is, first of all, the Danube part of Austria and the adjacent western outskirts of the Middle Danube Plain. The vast majority of the population lives here and the "center of gravity" of the whole country is located.

2. Climate. Large relief contrasts - from the lowlands to the snowy mountains - determine the vertical zonality of the climate, soils, and vegetation.

In Austria, vast areas of fertile land, warm and fairly humid (700-900 mm of precipitation per year) "grape" climate. Everything is in this word: a rather warm, long summer with an average July temperature of + 20 degrees and a warm sunny autumn. In the plains and foothills, winters are relatively mild with an average January temperature of 1-5 degrees. However, a large alpine part of the country is "deprived" of heat. With the rise for every 100 meters, the temperature drops by 0.5 - 0.6 degrees. The snow line is located at an altitude of 2500-2800 meters. Summer in the high mountains is cold, damp, windy, and sleet often falls. In winter, there is even more precipitation here: giant layers of snow accumulate on the slopes of the mountains, which often break off and rush down in avalanches for no apparent reason. crushing everything in their path. Rare winter does without casualties; dwellings, roads, power lines are destroyed... And sometimes in the middle of winter the snow suddenly disappears. So it was, for example, in the days of the "white" Olympics at the beginning of 1976 in the vicinity of Innsburg. Usually snow is "driven" by warm southern winds - hair dryers.

3. Natural resources. The mountainous part of the country is distinguished by an abundance of clean fresh water. It accumulates in the form of snow and glaciers for most of the year, so that in the summer it falls into them, to the Danube, in thousands of roaring streams, filling the lake basins lying along the way. . The tributaries of the Danube - Inn, Salzach, Enns, Drava - are fraught with large reserves of energy, but they are not navigable.

us and only partially used for timber rafting. There are many lakes in the country, especially in the northern foothills of the Alps and in the south, in the Klagenfurt Basin. They are of glacial origin, their pits are plowed by ancient glaciers; as a rule, lakes are deep, with cold, clear water. This type in the vast Lake Constance, partially owned by Austria.

Vegetation zones on the territory of Austria replace one another in the following order: broad-leaved (of oak, beech, ash) forests in the Danube valley (though very thinned) are replaced by a mixed forest of foothills. Above 2000 - 2200 m they are replaced by coniferous (mainly spruce-fir, partly pine) forests.

Mountain forests are one of the national wealth of Austria. On the vegetation map of Central Europe, the Austrian Eastern Alps look like the only large green island. Among the small Western European states, only Finland and Sweden surpass Austria in forest area. There are especially many forests suitable for industrial exploitation in Upper (mountainous) Styria, for which it is called the “green heart of Austria”. Apparently, it is no coincidence that the color of the flag of the land of Styria, its folk costumes is green. During the German occupation of the Second World War, the Austrian forests suffered enormous damage. Above the forests and sparse dwarf shrubs - subalpine (matta) and alpine (alma) meadows.

In the hot summer months, rapid snowmelt begins in the mountains, which leads to large floods, including on the Danube, the level of which sometimes rises by 8-9 m.

Nevertheless, the Alps, as “moisture collectors”, are of inestimable importance for Austria: the full-flowing rivers flowing from them, especially the Inn, Enns, Salzach, Drava, serve as the richest sources of inexhaustible water energy. In addition, Austria has large reserves of clean fresh water, concentrated in addition to glaciers and rivers in numerous alpine lakes (the predominance of lakes in the Salzkammergut area). In addition to this, Austria owns the southeastern part of the large deep Lake Constance on the western outskirts of the country and almost entirely the shallow lake Neusiedler See on its eastern outskirts.

4. Minerals. In Austria, the set of minerals is quite diverse, but among them there are very few of them, the value of which would go beyond the borders of the country. The exception is magnesite, which is used for the production of refractories and, to some extent, for the production of metallic magnesium from it. Magnesite occurs in the Styrian, Carinthian Ityrolean Alps.

There are very few energy resources. These are very modest deposits of oil (23 million tons) and natural gas (20 billion cubic meters) in Lower and partly in Upper Austria. Even with the Austrian scale of production, these reserves, according to available forecasts, will be exhausted within two decades. The reserves of brown coal are somewhat larger (in Styria, Upper Austria and Burgenland), but it is of poor quality.

Comparatively high-quality iron ores, but with a high metal content, are found in Styria (Erzberg) and a little in Carinthia (Hüttenberg). Non-ferrous metal ores are found in small quantities - lead-zinc in Carinthia (Bleyberg) and copper in Tyrol (Mitterberg). Of the chemical raw materials, only table salt (in the Salzkammergut) is of practical importance, and of other minerals - graphite and feldspar.

5. Animal world

In the mountain forests, mainly in the reserves, ungulates live - red deer, chamois, mountain sheep, mountain goats. Of the birds - capercaillie, black grouse, partridge. On the plains, where almost all the land is already cultivated, there are no large wild animals for a long time. But for the present there are foxes, hares, rodents.

6. Environment

The environment in most of Austria is not yet under the same threat of pollution as in most other industrialized countries in Europe. First of all, this concerns the Alps with their sparse population and generally insignificant industry in relation to this vast territory. The Austrian authorities, interested in attracting foreign tourists to the country, are taking some measures aimed at limiting environmental pollution, but not enough. The democratic public and scientific circles in Austria are sounding the alarm about the unacceptable degree of industrial waste pollution of the Danube below Vienna and the Mur and Mürz rivers.

Nature reserves play an important role in the system of measures for the protection of nature. There are 12 of them in Austria with a total area of 0.5 million hectares. They are found in all natural areas - from the steppe surroundings of Lake Neusiedler See to the high Tauern. Most of the reserves are located in the Alps.

POPULATION.

1. Ethnic composition. The population of Austria is relatively ethnically homogeneous: about 97% of its population are Austrians. In addition, in Austria, in certain areas of Styria, Carinthia and Burgenland, small groups of Slovenes, Croats and Hungarians live, and in Vienna there are also Czechs and Jews. Many Austrian citizens consider themselves not only Austrians, but, by origin from this or that province, also Styrians, Tyroleans, etc.

The Austrians speak the Austro-Bavarian dialects of the German language, which differ significantly from the literary one. Literary German is used mainly as a written or official language, as well as in conversations with foreigners. Under the influence of local dialects, his vocabulary and grammar also received some originality.

2. Demographic situation.

One of the main features of the population of Austria is the cessation of its growth since the beginning of the 70s. This is explained by a large drop in the birth rate. If it were not for the markedly increased average life expectancy, which reached 75 years in 1990, the demographic situation would have been even more unfavorable. The fall in the birth rate is due to the difficult financial situation of the majority of the Austrian population, and the consequences of the Second World War. A small natural increase has been preserved even in the less developed western alpine lands, as well as in rural areas. Austrian experts predict that until the year 2000 the population in the country will not change significantly, however, a decrease in the share of young people and an increase in the share of the elderly threatens to reduce labor resources.

3.Structure of population distribution

The territory of the country is populated very unevenly. With an average density in the country of 90 people per 1 sq. km, it ranges from 150-200 or more people in the eastern regions adjacent to Vienna to 15-20 in the Alps. In most of the country, the rural population lives in farms and individual yards - the lack of convenient land is affecting. Due to difficult living conditions, the proportion of the Alpine population is constantly decreasing, there is an flight from the mountains - "bergflucht". Above 1000 m above sea level, 2% of the country's population lives permanently.

77% of the population lives in cities (with a population of over 2 thousand people), but Austria does not give the impression of an urban country to the traveler. The fact is that more than a quarter of the citizens are concentrated in the largest city in the country - Vienna. Half of the total urban population lives in small towns with a population of up to 100,000 people. Thus, large cities - with a population of 100 to 250 thousand are not typical for this country. There are only four of them Graz, Linz, Salzbkrg and Innsburg. The functions of these cities, not to mention Vienna, are diverse, which cannot be said about the mass of small cities, which are mostly “unambiguous”. They are dominated, as a rule, by one or two industries.

The rapid growth in the number of urban residents is associated with an increase in the share of non-agricultural activities of the economically active population. In 1990, in industry, including construction and craft, its share was more than 41%, and in agriculture and forestry - about 12% (against 33% in 1960), in transport and communications - 7%.

4. Religion. According to an international survey of values conducted in 1990-91, 44% of Austrians visit churches and other prayer houses once a month and more often (8th place out of 27 countries in Europe and North America). If we combine the data of these international studies in 1990-91 and 1995-97, then Austria will take 23rd place out of 59 countries in terms of church attendance once a week and more often (30% of Austrians attended churches with exactly this regularity in 1990-91).
At the same time, during the 1991 poll, only 6.1% of Austrians said that they did not believe in God (another 8.3% believed in God, but did not believe in life after death).

(on the territory of Austria, Christianity began to spread from the end Religious organizations
The largest religious organization is the Roman Catholic Church of the III century). The state supports the Church: there is a 1% church tax in the country, which all citizens of the country are required to pay. The Roman Catholic Church in 2000 had 5,651,479 adherents (72.1% of the population).
The second largest is the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg and Helvetian Confession (ECAiGI), which unites two autonomous Churches (Lutherans and Reformed). The Lutherans and the Reformed finally received the right to free confession of their faiths only in 1781, and they were fully equalized with the Catholics in another century.

5. Education.

Universal compulsory education in Austria starts at the age of six and lasts for 9 years. Education in public schools and higher education - free of charge. There are 18 universities, 12 universities. The University of Vienna (founded in 1365) is the oldest existing university in the German-speaking countries.

6. Mass media.

Over 20 daily newspapers are published in Austria. Of the one-time circulation is approximately 3 million copies. Television and radio broadcasting is carried out by the state company ERF. The national information agency is the Austrian Press Agency (APA).

7. National holidays. Ascension of Christ, Second Day of the Trinity, Feast of Corpus Christi, Assumption of the Virgin (15.8), National holiday of the Republic of Austria (26.10), Feast of All Saints (1.11): St. Virgin Mary (8.12), as well as Christmas (25 and 26.12).

8. Taxation.

Austria, like most countries in Western Europe, has a rather complex, multi-level taxation system, with most of the taxes collected through the Federal Tax Service. Local taxes are not too significant.

Austrian legislation divides all individuals and legal entities into taxpayers with unlimited and limited tax liability. Unlimited liability means that tax is paid on all income received both in the country and abroad. Such liability is not borne by individuals with permanent residence in Austria, as well as by companies with a registered office or management in Austria. Accordingly, limited tax liability is borne by individuals residing abroad, and corporations with neither a management nor a registered office in the country. In this case, certain types of income received in Austria are subject to taxation, for example, income from activities carried out through permanent establishments or branches.

The main types of taxes: 1) on investments; 2) for income; 3) corporate; 4) for entrepreneurial activity; 5) on property; 6) from turnover (value added); 7) real estate; 8) for inheritance and gifts.

Economy.

1.General information

After the formation of Austria as an independent state in 1918, it experienced a severe economic and political crisis during the 1920s and 30s. Having lost its outlying possessions - the industrial Czech Republic and the agrarian territories of Hungary, as well as burdened with huge expenses for the maintenance of a numerous bureaucratic apparatus that previously ruled a huge empire, and now remained out of work, Austria could not adapt to new conditions for a long time. During the years of the Anschluss, German monopolies sought to establish the exploitation of Austria's natural resources in the interests of Germany with their control over thousands of Austrian enterprises. Numerous hydroelectric power stations, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises, and chemical plants were built.

After the Second World War, the former German property passed into the hands of the state in Austria, which was in the interests of the Austrian people. At present, the main enterprises of heavy industry and banks have been nationalized in Austria. State-owned enterprises mainly produce electricity, iron and steel, aluminum, iron ore, brown coal, oil and natural gas are mined, oil is processed, nitrogen fertilizers, artificial fibers, and some engineering products are produced. Mainly enterprises of the light and food industries, as well as a group of industries related to the harvesting, processing and processing of wood, remained not nationalized.

Serious positions in the economyAustria is played by foreign capital. Entire industries are under its strong influence, and in some cases under control: electrical, electronic, petrochemical, magnesite, the production of certain types of equipment. Foreign capital limits the economic independence of Austria, in particular, it slows down the development of the public sector.

Austria is one of the economically developed countries with a relatively rapidly developing industry, although the global economic crisis of 1974-1975 did not spare Austria either. here it started a little later. The economic development of Austria is also favorably influenced by the fact that, as a neutral state, it has relatively small military spending.

In the post-war period, the industrial development of Austria made significant progress. Today, Austria belongs to the industrial countries, and although the value of production, industry exceeds agriculture by about 7 times, Austria provides its needs for basic agricultural products by 85% through its own production.

Austria's dependence on the external market is reflected in the fact that it imports the missing energy raw materials and exports surplus manufactured products.

The main industrial and agricultural region of the country is the Danube lands. Here, on 1/5 of the territory of Austria, there are its vital economic centers. In the rest of the country, especially in the highlands of the Alps, almost uninhabited areas predominate, still having little connection with the outside world and with each other.

As in many Western European countries, the Austrian industry is characterized by an uneven development of individual sectors. Some of the most important manufacturing industries are completely absent, such as the aircraft industry, while others are of little importance - these include the automotive industry and the production of electronic equipment.

1. Mining,_heavy,_light_industry

Due to the poverty of minerals, the mining industry plays an extremely insignificant role in the economy, with the exception of magnesite, which is of export importance. In these industries, Austria has excess capacity, and a significant part of their products are exported to Western European countries.

2. Fuel industry

One of the weakest points of the Austrian economy is its fuel industry. Austria imports all the necessary coal, more than half of brown coal, about 4/5 of oil, almost half of natural gas. From the beginning of the 1970s, imports of primary energy sources began to exceed their domestic production in value. Particularly large expenditures are associated with the transport of oil and gas. Oil and natural gas account for approximately 60% of all energy consumption, while solid fuels and hydropower account for 20% each.

The country produces less than 2 million tons of oil per year, and its production is gradually declining. However, the oil is relatively shallow and of high quality. The main deposits are located northeast of Vienna. Near the capital, in the city of Schwechat, at the only large oil refinery, almost all oil refining is concentrated. From abroad (mainly from the Arab countries), it is received through the Trieste-Vienna oil pipeline, laid along the southeastern outskirts of Austria outside the Alps. Parallel to it, but in the opposite direction, a gas pipeline was laid from Russia, through which Russian gas goes to Austria and Italy.

3. Energy

More than half of the electricity is produced by numerous hydroelectric power stations, but the importance of hydropower is declining, and the production of electricity at thermal power plants is growing faster. HPPs are mainly built on the alpine rivers in the west of the country, from where part of the electricity is transmitted to the eastern regions, part is exported and only a little is consumed locally.

4. Ferrous_metallurgy One of the most important branches of Austrian industry is ferrous metallurgy. Iron and steel smelting greatly exceeds the needs of the country, and most of the ferrous metal is exported. Most of the cast iron is smelted in Linz in Upper Austria, the rest in Leoben. Steel production is roughly equally distributed between Linz and the Styrian region. Austria is the birthplace of a new, more efficient technological steel smelting, namely oxygen-converter smelting, which is increasingly replacing the open-hearth process. The needs of metallurgical plants are only 3/4 covered by local ore. All alloying metals and metallurgical coke are imported from abroad.

5.Nonferrous_metallurgy

In non-ferrous metallurgy, only the production of aluminum is important. The development of this industry in Austria, which does not have bauxite in its bowels, is associated with the use of cheap electricity from numerous hydroelectric power stations on the Inn River. Here, in Ranshofen, near Braunau, one of the largest aluminum smelters in Western Europe has been built. Other non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises do not even cover the country's domestic needs. Only a small amount of copper and lead is smelted from local ore.

6. Mechanical engineering

Mechanical engineering, although it forms the core of all Austrian industry, is less developed than in other Western European countries, as a result of which Austria imports more engineering products than it exports. Machine-building enterprises, as a rule, are small: many of them employ no more than 50 people.

Large quantities are produced of machines and apparatus for the light and food industries, some types of machine tools, and equipment for the mining industry. Locomotives, small sea vessels are also produced. The largest center of mechanical engineering is Vienna.

7. Timber industry complex. Austria is also characterized by a complex of industries, including the harvesting of wood, its processing and the production of pulp, paper and cardboard. The significance of the timber industry complex goes far beyond the borders of the country. Forest products account for about a third of the country's total exports. Large areas of timber harvesting are carried out in the mountainous regions of Styria, mainly here its primary processing is carried out.

8.Agriculture Agriculture is quite developed in Austria. At present, the yield of the main grain crops - wheat and barley - exceeds 35 kg / ha, the productivity of dairy cows reaches 3 thousand kg of milk per year.

More than 2/3 of agricultural production comes from animal husbandry. This is facilitated by the fact that natural meadows and pastures occupy more than half of the entire agricultural area. In addition, about a quarter of the arable land is occupied by fodder crops. And some of the feed is imported. All this makes it possible to keep 2.5 million heads of cattle. Recently, the production of meat and milk covers the entire solvent demand of the population.

The cultivated area is small. There are lands cultivated intermittently. These are the so-called egarten (relogs). They are used alternately as arable land, then as a pasture. Egarten is characteristic of the Alpine regions.

The main agricultural crops - wheat, barley and sugar beet - are cultivated mainly where the climate is warm and the soils are fertile - in the often Danube region of Austria and on its eastern flat-hilly outskirts. Rye, oats and potatoes are also sown here. But their crops are even more widespread - they are also found in the foothills of the Alpi in mountain valleys, on the Šumava plateau. Outside the mountainous areas, vegetable growing, fruit growing, and especially viticulture are widespread. Grapes are grown only in the warm regions of the northeastern and eastern outskirts of the country.

9. Transport

The network of communications in Austria is quite dense, and not only on the plain, but also in the mountains, which is facilitated by the significant dissection of the Eastern Alps by deep transverse and longitudinal valleys.

But, despite the deep dissection of the relief, still had to go to the construction of numerous road engineering structures: tunnels, bridges, viaducts. There are over 10 tunnels in Austria, each more than a kilometer long. The longest is the Arlberg road tunnel, which has a length of 14 km.

The construction of mountain railways and motor roads contributed to the development of forest, hydropower and other resources of mountain regions.

The main modes of transport in Austria are rail and road. About 1/2 of the total length of railways is electrified. Electric tracts are located mainly in the mountainous part of the country, where cheap electricity from local hydroelectric power plants is used and where there are many steep slopes. The most important international directions are also electrified, including those to Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and transalpine roads. In other directions, diesel traction prevails.

From Vienna, as the largest railway junction, the most important highways radiate outward. The main one departs in a westerly direction, linking the Danubian and Alpine lands. In the northwestern direction from this trans-Austrian highway there are roads to the countries of the former Czechoslovakia and Germany. Of great importance is the Semmering Highway, which runs southwest from Vienna and connects the capital with Upper Styria and Italy. The main highways are connected by two high-altitude lines crossing the Alps from north to south (Linz - Leoben and Salzburg - Villach).

Road transport successfully competes with rail transport in the transportation of both goods and especially passengers. Now only intercity buses carry twice as many passengers as railroads. Over the past decades, several sections of new highways such as motorways have been built, the most important of which is the Vienna-Salzburg highway. The pattern of the network of highways is similar to the scheme of railways./>

The only navigable river in Austria is the Danube. It is navigable throughout the entire Austrian section, 350 km long. It is especially abundant in summer, when mountain snows and glaciers melt. However, river transport accounts for less than a tenth of the country's total cargo turnover. The largest port in Austria is Linz, where metallurgy consumes a huge amount of coal and coke, iron ore and other raw materials imported mainly along the river. In terms of cargo turnover, Vienna is more than twice inferior to it.

Geography of foreign economic relations.

The Austrian economy cannot develop without close ties with foreign countries, and its import of goods and capital exceeds their export. But the services provided to foreign partners outweigh the services received from them. First of all, we are talking about tourism, which plays an important role in the country's economy.

Austria's foreign trade has a negative balance, that is, imports of its goods exceed exports in value. A significant place in Austria's exports is occupied by raw materials and semi-finished products: wood and products of its partial processing, ferrous metals, chemical products, and electricity. Some types of machinery and equipment, river vessels are exported from finished products. Food is exported in small quantities.

Predominantly finished products are imported, and first of all consumer goods, the import of machinery and equipment, cars, household and industrial electronics is somewhat less important. Oil, natural gas, coal and coke, ferrous and non-ferrous metal ores, and chemical raw materials are imported in large quantities. They also import food and taste products, products of tropical agriculture, multi-fodder.

In general, more than 85% of Austria's foreign trade is oriented towards the world capitalist market. Germany occupies the first place both in exports and especially in imports of Austria.

The policy of state neutrality pursued by Austria is a good basis for the further development of foreign economic relations with all countries of the world.

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 geographic 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 the 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 the state border with here passes. 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.

Has no access to the sea. The geographical position of Austria contributes to its communication with other European countries, from which it directly borders:
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). . This provides Austria with favorable transport and geographical conditions for mutually beneficial trade with neighboring countries.

The government is headed by the Federal Chancellor. Members of the government are appointed by the president.
The Austrian Parliament is a bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung), which consists of the Federal Council and the National Council. Geographically located in Vienna. Parliament can be dissolved either by presidential decree or by a vote of no confidence in the lower house of parliament.
Federal Council - Bundesrat (64 seats). The deputies are elected by the Landtags - the parliaments of the states. The lands are represented by a different number of deputies (from 3 to 12) depending on the population. The term of office of a deputy of the Bundesrat is 4 or 6 years, depending on the term of office of the Landtag that elected them.
National Council - Nationalrat (183 seats). Deputies are elected according to the proportional-list system. The term of office is 5 years.

The population is about 8.19 million people. (2003).
The territory of the country is populated very unevenly.
The average density is 90 people per 1 sq. km, which ranges from 150-200 or more people in the eastern regions adjacent to Vienna, to 15-20 in the Alps. In most of the country's territory, the rural population lives in hamlets and individual yards - the lack of convenient land is having an effect. Due to the difficult living conditions, the proportion of the Alpine population is constantly decreasing, there is an flight from the mountains - "bergflucht". Above 1000 m above sea level, 2% of the country's population lives permanently.
The share of the urban population is 60%.
About 98% of the population are German-speaking Austrians. There are Slovenian (about 50 thousand) and Croatian (about 35 thousand) national minorities; Hungarians, Czechs and Slovaks live (the latter mainly in Vienna).
The official language is German.
The main religion is Christianity (Catholicism).
One of the main features of the Austrian population is the cessation of its growth since the beginning of the 70s. This is largely due to the decline in the birth rate. If it were not for the marked increase in average life expectancy, which reached 75 years in 1990, the demographic situation would have been even more unfavorable.

Nature.
Relief
The main thing that determines the natural features of almost the entire territory of Austria is the Alps. Their white-headed peaks are visible in the country from everywhere. Austria lies in the Eastern Alps, which are lower and wider than the Western Alps. The border between them coincides with the western border of Austria and runs along the valley of the upper Rhine. The Eastern Alps have fewer glaciers and more forests and meadows than the Western Alps. The highest point in Austria - Mount Grossglockner in the High Tauern - does not reach 4 thousand meters. (3797 m). From the highest peaks flows the largest glacier of the Eastern Alps - Pasierze - over 10 km long. Other peaks of the crested granite-gneiss zone of the mountains - the Ötztal, Stubai, Zillertal Alps - are also covered with snow and ice. In this crystalline zone, the so-called alpine landforms are most pronounced - sharp ridges, steep-walled valleys plowed by glaciers. To the north and south of the ridge zone stretches the chain of the Limestone Alps. Of the caves, the ice one is especially widely known - Eisriesenwelt (the world of ice giants) in the Tennengebirge mountains, south of Salzburg. The names of the mountain ranges themselves speak of the inhospitability, wildness of these places: Totes-Gebirge (meter-high mountains), Hellen-Gebirge (hellish mountains), etc. The limestone Alps to the north pass into the Pre-Alps, descending in steps to the Danube. These are low ridged mountains, overgrown with forests, in some places their slopes are plowed up, and wide sunny valleys are quite densely populated. If it is appropriate to compare the geologically young Alps with the Caucasus, then the mountains lying on the other, left side of the Danube, resemble the Urals. These are the southern spurs of the Šumava, part of the ancient Bohemian massif, almost to the base, destroyed by time. The height of this border hill is only 500 meters and only in a few places does it reach 1000 meters. Areas with a calm relief, flat or hilly lowlands occupy only about 1/5 of the country's area. This is, first of all, the Danube part of Austria and the adjacent western outskirts of the Middle Danube Plain. The overwhelming majority of the population lives here and the "center of gravity" of the whole country is located.
Climate
In this part of Austria, there are vast areas of fertile land, a warm and rather humid (700-900 mm of precipitation per year) "grape" climate. Everything is in this word: a rather warm, long summer with an average July temperature of + 20 degrees and a warm sunny autumn. On the plains and foothills, winters are relatively mild with an average January temperature of 1-5 degrees. However, a large alpine part of the country is "deprived" of heat. With the rise for every 100 meters, the temperature drops by 0.5 - 0.6 degrees. The snow line is located at an altitude of 2500-2800 meters. Summer in the high mountains is cold, damp, windy, and sleet often falls. In winter, there is even more precipitation here: giant layers of snow accumulate on the slopes of the mountains, which often break off and rush down in avalanches for no apparent reason. Crushing everything in its path. Rare winter does without casualties; dwellings, roads, power lines are destroyed... And sometimes in the middle of winter the snow suddenly disappears. So it was, for example, in the days of the "white" Olympics at the beginning of 1976 in the vicinity of Innsburg. Usually snow is "driven" by warm southerly winds - hair dryers. The mountainous part of the country is distinguished by an abundance of clean fresh water.
It accumulates in the form of snow and glaciers for most of the year, only to fall down to the Danube in summer in thousands of roaring streams, filling the lake basins along the way.
Alpine rivers also determine the regime of the Danube: it is especially abounding in summer, when lowland rivers usually become shallow. The tributaries of the Danube - Inn, Salzach, Ends, Drava - are fraught with large reserves of energy, but all of them are not navigable and are only partially used for timber rafting. There are many lakes in the country, especially in the northern foothills of the Alps and in the south, in the Klagenfurt Basin. They are of glacial origin, their pits are plowed by ancient glaciers; as a rule, lakes are deep, with cold, clear water. This type in the vast Lake Constance, partially owned by Austria.
forest resources
Forest Resources Austria is a fairly wooded country. Forests occupy almost 2/3 of its territory.
They were preserved mainly in the mountains, where the vegetation is relatively little changed by man. The foothills and the lower parts of the slopes of the mountains are covered with broad-leaved - oak, beech, coffin forests. Higher they are replaced by coniferous - mostly fir - forests. Mountain forests are one of the national treasures of Austria. Even higher than the forest belt lie tall-grass subalpine meadows - mats, and then short-grass alpine palms. They serve as excellent summer pastures for livestock, mainly dairy. Here the peasants prepare hay for the winter. On the flat-hilly territories of the country, the vegetation cover is almost completely changed by man. Once, these areas were covered with shady oak and beech forests, from which small groves remained. Now almost all the land is plowed up, there are many gardens, vineyards, parks. Roads are lined with trees, their green chains often separate the possessions of one owner from the lands of another.
Animal world
In mountain forests, mainly in reserves, ungulates live - red deer, chamois, mountain sheep, mountain goats, and from birds - capercaillie, black grouse, partridge. On the plains, where almost all the land is already cultivated, there are no large wild animals for a long time. But still there are foxes, hares, rodents.

Economy
Austria is one of the most developed countries in Europe. In terms of per capita income, Austria ranks 9th in the world.
The leading industries are mechanical engineering, metallurgy, as well as chemical, pulp and paper, mining, textile and food industries. One third of the volume of industrial production falls on the state sector of the economy.
Due to the poverty of minerals, the mining industry plays an extremely insignificant role in the economy, with the exception of magnesite, which is of export importance. One of the most important branches of the Austrian industry is ferrous metallurgy. Iron and steel smelting greatly exceeds the needs of the country, and most of the ferrous metal is exported.
More than half of the electricity is produced at numerous hydroelectric power plants, but the importance of hydropower is declining, and electricity generation at thermal power plants is growing faster. HPPs are mainly built on the alpine rivers in the west of the country, from where part of the electricity is transmitted to the eastern regions, part is exported and only a little is consumed locally. The needs of the metallurgical plants are only covered by 3/4 from local ore. All alloying metals and metallurgical coke are imported from abroad. In non-ferrous metallurgy, only the production of aluminum is important. The development of this industry in Austria, which does not have bauxite in its bowels, is associated with the use of cheap electricity from numerous hydroelectric power plants on the Inn River. Mechanical engineering, although it forms the core of the entire industry of Austria, is less developed than in other Western European countries. Large quantities are produced of machines and apparatus for the light and food industries, some types of machine tools, and equipment for the mining industry. Locomotives, small sea vessels are also produced. The largest center of mechanical engineering is Vienna. Austria is also characterized by a complex of industries, including the harvesting of wood, its processing and the production of pulp, paper and cardboard. The value of the timber industry complex goes far beyond the borders of the country. Forest products account for about a third of the country's total exports. Large areas of timber harvesting are carried out in the mountainous regions of Styria, mainly its primary processing is also carried out here.
Austria has a highly developed agriculture. Almost all types of agricultural products necessary to provide for the population are produced. The most important branch of agriculture is animal husbandry.
The main crops are wheat, barley and sugar beet
Foreign tourism is one of the most profitable sectors of the Austrian economy. About 350 thousand people are employed in this industry at more than 70 thousand various kinds of medium and small tourism enterprises (hotels, restaurants, resorts, swimming pools and beaches, sports facilities, etc.). In terms of the share of gross tourism receipts in GDP (more than 6%), Austria occupies one of the leading places in the world.
Austria trades with more than 150 countries worldwide. About 65% of exports and 68% of imports come from the countries of the European Union. The main trading partners are Germany (40%), Italy, Switzerland. Russia accounts for only 1.5%.
Minerals
In Austria, the set of minerals is quite diverse, but among them there are very few of those whose value would go beyond the borders of the country. An exception is magnesite, which is used for the production of refractories and, to some extent, for the production of metallic magnesium from it. Magnesite occurs in the Styrian, Carinthian and Tyrolean Alps.
There are very few energy resources. These are very modest deposits of oil (23 million tons) and natural gas (20 billion cubic meters) in Lower and partly in Upper Austria. Even with the Austrian scale of production, these reserves, according to available forecasts, will be exhausted within two decades. The reserves of brown coal are somewhat larger (in Styria, Upper Austria and Burgenland), but it is of poor quality.
Comparatively high-quality iron ores, but with a high metal content, are found in Styria (Erzberg) and a little in Carinthia (Hüttenberg). Non-ferrous metal ores are found in small quantities - lead-zinc in Carinthia (Bleyberg) and copper in Tyrol (Mitterberg). Of the chemical raw materials, only common salt (in the Salzkammergut) is of practical importance, and of other minerals, graphite.
Sports in Austria
Austria is a sports country. The most popular sports in Austria are downhill and cross-country skiing, football, swimming, athletics, golf, cycling and windsurfing. Recently, new sports are gaining popularity in Austria. For example, snowboarding.
Alpine skiing has been considered the most popular sport in the country for more than a hundred years. In general, the founder of this sport is the Austrian Matis Zdarsky, who invented the first ski bindings, and in 1905 organized the first slalom competitions.
Austria has repeatedly become the venue for the most prestigious alpine skiing competitions. The best ski slopes in Austria are located in Alberg (Tyrol), St. Anton and St. Christoph, where the Austrian Ski Academy and coach training center are located.
In Austria, skiing is also possible in the summer. There are eight glaciers in the country, next to which entire tourist cities have sprung up. The most popular glaciers in Austria are in the areas of Kaprun and Stubai.
There is nothing strange in the fact that in 1999 the World Championships in cross-country skiing were held in the Austrian province of Styria, on the local Dachstein glacier, which is a popular training base for skiers from all over the world. This glacier is so popular that even the national teams of northern countries like Finland and Norway train on this glacier in summer. And in the summer you can ski right in a bathing suit. Another popular winter sport in Austria is luge. Austria is the undisputed favorite in this sport. And only Italy and Germany in some competitions can compete with it.
The reasons for Austria's success in this sport are quite simple. The country has created all conditions for athletes. Yes, and ordinary people love to sled, because in Austria there are 310 luge clubs.
Of the summer sports in Austria, football occupies the first place. In general, Austria at the beginning of the 20th century was a football power. The greatest players of the time were Matthias Sindler, Tony Polister and Hans Krankl.
Today, Austria cannot boast of great football achievements in the international arena. But in the summer, football in Austria becomes the number one sport.
Austria's countless mountain rivers, lakes, and picturesque slopes create excellent opportunities and conditions for practicing sports such as canoeing and mountain biking. Also, Austria has good conditions for hiking and rock climbing.
Conclusion: The geographical position of Austria is convenient for the Olympic Games. She is located
etc.................

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 is a 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. The total area of the 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.

The geographical position favors the development of 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 is the highest point in the country (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 are ridged low mountains covered 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 July temperature is +20º C. The winter is mild, the average January temperature is +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

A characteristic feature of the mountainous regions of the country is the 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. The largest river in the country is 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 of glacial origin. The largest lake - Constance - belongs to Austria in part. 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. The Austrian Alps are a popular destination 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

The foothills and the lower regions of 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. Red deer, roe deer, elk, brown bear, mountain sheep, chamois, mountain goats, alpine marmot, mountain eagle, black grouse, capercaillie, partridges live in protected areas in forested mountain ranges.

On the plains there are hares, foxes, rodents. In the steppe region near Lake Neusiedler See, there is a purple heron.

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The political and geographical position of Austria according to the plan. Economic and geographical characteristics of Austria. Medical care and insurance