Name: Federal Republic of Austria

Location: Landlocked in central Europe. It borders Germandy and Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, slovenia and Italy to the south and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west.

Made up of: 9 independent federal states - Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Vienna.

Population: 8.1 million (UN, 2005)

Capital: Vienna

Area: 83,871 sq km (32,383 sq miles)

Major language: German

Major religion: Christianity

Life expectancy: 76 years (men), 82 years (women) (UN)

Currency: 1 Euro = 100 cents 

Internet: .at

Dialling Code: +43

Peak Time: July, August, Christmas and Easter

Daylight Savings time: Valid from end of March to end of October

Time Zone: GMT + 1

Climate: Central European climate influenced by the Atlantic Climate. The Alpine regions have high precipitation (except inner alpine valley regions such as teh upper Inntal) short summers and long winters.

Airports at: Graz, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Linz and Salzburg

Electricity: 220V alternating current.

Highlights
Alpine ski and snowboard resorts
Eisriesenwelt Caves - world's largest ice caves
Health spas
Hohn Tauern National Park
Krimml Falls - Triple falls

10 October 2007