Austria\'s most icon image is probably that of Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music. This is the land of Mozart and Strauss, of grand palaces, alpine landscapes and the tourists love the spas.
10 October 2007
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