About Austria - Fast Facts
| Government: Federal Republic
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Currency: EUR
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| Area: 83, 858 sq km | Religion: Roman Catholic | |
| Population: 8, 139, 000 | Climate: moderate, continental | |
| Capital: Vienna | Time zone: +1 GMT | |
| Language: German | Member of EU: Yes |
Austria is located in Central Europe. Austria is a predominantly mountainous country with a total area of 83, 855 km2. Its border is formed by eight other European countries, namely Italy, Switzerland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia. Vienna is the capital of Austria and lies on the Danube River.
Austria is divided into nine federal provinces (Bundesländer):
- Vienna (Wien)
- Lower Austria (Niederösterreich)
- Upper Austria (Oberösterreich)
- Salzburg (Salzburg)
- Carinthia (Kärnten)
- Tyrol (Tirol)
- Vorarlberg (Vorarlberg)
- Styria (Steiermark)
- Burgenland (Burgenland)
Austria's population just exceeds eight million. 20% of the total population live in Vienna. A reported 93% of Austrians are German-speaking. Austria has a diverse ethnic mix that includes six officially recognized ethnic groups: Croats, Czechs, Hungarians, Roma/Sinti, Slovaks and Slovenes.
Approximately 73% of the population of Austria regards itself as Roman Catholic, there are also 11 other officially recognised religions in Austria.
Austria enjoys a moderate continental climate featuring all four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Summers are generally warm and pleasant with cooler nights, winters are sunny, with reliable and frequent snowfalls. The weather is changeable throughout the year. However, in summer rainfalls are usually heavy and of short duration only. Winters are rather cold in the North-East and can be lightened up by the frequent and heavy foehn winds (a warm and dry wind) in some valleys in the Alps.
Innsbruck and Tyrol
Innsbruck is the capital city of the federal state of Tyrol in Western Austria. It is located in the Inn Valley at the junction with the Wipptal, which provides access to the Brenner Pass, some 30km south of Innsbruck. Located in the broad valley between high mountains, the Nordkette (Hafelekar, 2, 334 meters) in the north, Patscherkofel (2, 246 m) and Serles (2, 718 m) in the south. It is an internationally renowned winter sports center, and hosted the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics as well as the 1984 and 1988 Winter Paralympics. Innsbruck hosted the first Winter Youth Olympics in 2012. Due to its location between high mountains, Innsbruck serves as an ideal place for skiing in winter, and mountaineering in summer. There are several ski resorts around Innsbruck, with the Nordkette served by a cable car and additional chair lifts further up.
Innsbruck is the cultural and economic center of western Austria. It is also one of the most famous and substantial tourist centers, with more than a million overnight stays. Innsbruck is a university city, with several locally based colleges and universities.
