The Republic of Austria (German: Republik Österreich) is a landlocked country in central Europe. It borders Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The capital is the city of Vienna. Since January 1st, 2006, the seat of the Presidency of the EU has been in Vienna, where Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel assumes leade ...

Including:

• Austria - Origin and history of the name
• Austria - History
• Austria - Austria and the Holy Roman Empire
• Austria - Modern history
• Austria - Politics
• Austria - Subdivisions
• Austria - Geography
• Austria - Climate
• Austria - Economy
• Austria - Demographics
• Austria - Politics concerning ethnic groups Volksgruppenpolitik
• Austria - Religion
• Austria - Culture
• Austria - Miscellaneous topics

Read more here: » Austria: Encyclopedia - Austria

The Adamello-Presanella Group is a mountain range in the Italian Alps. It is part of the Southern Limestone Alps. It is located in the provinces of Trento and Brescia. The name stems from its highest peaks: Adamello and Presanella. The Adamello-Presanella Group is separated from the Ortler Alps in the north by the Tonale Pass; from the Bergamo Alps in the west by the Oglio valley (Val Camonica); from the Brenta Group in the east by the Campo Carlo Magno Pass and the ...

Including:

• Adamello-Presanella - Peaks
• Adamello-Presanella - Passes

Read more here: » Adamello-Presanella: Encyclopedia - Adamello-Presanella

The Alps is the name for one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east, through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west. The word "Alps" was taken via French from Latin Alpes (meaning "the Alps"), which may be influenced by the Latin words albus (white) or altus (high), or a Celtic word. The highest mountain in the Alps is Mont Blanc at 4810 m on the French-Italian border. All the main peaks of the Alps can be found in th ...

Including:

• Alps - Geography
• Alps - Subdivision
• Alps - Main chains
• Alps - Principal passes
• Alps - Climate
• Alps - Geology
• Alps - Political history
• Alps - Exploration
• Alps - Flora
• Alps - Fauna

Read more here: » Alps: Encyclopedia - Alps

Alps - Subdivision. The Alps are generally divided into Western Alps and Eastern Alps. The division is along the line between Lake Constance and Lake Como, following the Rhine. The Western Alps are located in Italy, France and Switzerland, the Eastern Alps in Austria, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovenia and Switzerland. The highest peak of the Western Alps is Mont Blanc, 4810 m. The highest peak in the Eastern Alps is Piz Bernina, 4052 m. The Eastern Alps are commonly subdivided according to the differ ...

See also:

Alps, Alps - Geography, Alps - Subdivision, Alps - Main chains, Alps - Principal passes, Alps - Climate, Alps - Geology, Alps - Political history, Alps - Exploration, Alps - Flora, Alps - Fauna

Read more here: » Alps: Encyclopedia II - Alps - Geography

Austria - Austria and the Holy Roman Empire. The territory of Austria originally known as the Celtic kingdom of Noricum, was a long time ally of Rome. It was occupied rather than conquered by the Romans during the reign of Augustus and made the province Noricum in 16 BC. Later it was conquered by Huns, Rugii, Lombards, Ostrogoths, Bavarii, Avars (until c. 800), and Franks (in that order). Finally, after 48 years of Hungarian rule (907 to 955), the core territory of Austria was awarded to Leopold of Babenberg in 976. Be ...

See also:

Austria, Austria - Origin and history of the name, Austria - History, Austria - Austria and the Holy Roman Empire, Austria - Modern history, Austria - Politics, Austria - Subdivisions, Austria - Geography, Austria - Climate, Austria - Economy, Austria - Demographics, Austria - Politics concerning ethnic groups Volksgruppenpolitik, Austria - Religion, Austria - Culture, Austria - Miscellaneous topics

Read more here: » Austria: Encyclopedia II - Austria - History

Though the Alps form a barrier they have never been an impassable barrier. From earliest days onwards, they have been traversed first, perhaps, for purposes of war or commerce, & later by pilgrims, students and tourists. Places where they were crossed are called passes (this word is sometimes, though rarely, applied to gorges only), and are points at which the alpine chain sinks to form depressions, up to which deep-cut valleys lead from the plains & hilly pre-mountainous zones. Hence the oldest names for such passes are Mont (still ...

See also:

Principal passes of the Alps, Principal passes of the Alps - Road passes, Principal passes of the Alps - Main chain, Principal passes of the Alps - Other passes, Principal passes of the Alps - Road tunnels, Principal passes of the Alps - Railroad passes and tunnels, Principal passes of the Alps - History

Read more here: » Principal passes of the Alps: Encyclopedia II - Principal passes of the Alps - History

Although Austria is a small country, its history as a world power and its unique cultural environment in the heart of Europe have generated contributions to mankind in every possible field. One might argue that Austria is internationally best known for its musicians. It has been the birthplace of many famous composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn, Franz Schubert, Anton Bruckner, Johann Strauss, Sr., Johann Strauss, Jr. or ...

See also:

Austria, Austria - Origin and history of the name, Austria - History, Austria - Austria and the Holy Roman Empire, Austria - Modern history, Austria - Politics, Austria - Subdivisions, Austria - Geography, Austria - Climate, Austria - Economy, Austria - Demographics, Austria - Politics concerning ethnic groups Volksgruppenpolitik, Austria - Religion, Austria - Culture, Austria - Miscellaneous topics

Read more here: » Austria: Encyclopedia II - Austria - Culture

Principal passes of the Alps - Main chain. From west to east: Principal passes of the Alps - Other passes. Detailed lists of passes are given by Alpine subdivision, see the following articles: Western Alps Ligurian Alps Maritime Alps Cottian Alps Dauphiné Alps Graian Alps Pennine Alps Bernese Alps Lepontine Alps Tödi Range North-Eastern Swiss Alps Easter ...

See also:

Principal passes of the Alps, Principal passes of the Alps - Road passes, Principal passes of the Alps - Main chain, Principal passes of the Alps - Other passes, Principal passes of the Alps - Road tunnels, Principal passes of the Alps - Railroad passes and tunnels, Principal passes of the Alps - History

Read more here: » Principal passes of the Alps: Encyclopedia II - Principal passes of the Alps - Road passes

While northern and central Germany was the origin of the Reformation, Austria (and Bavaria) were the heart of the Counter-Reformation in the 16th and 17th century, when the absolute monarchy of Habsburg imposed a strict regime to maintain Catholicism's power and influence among Austrians. Despite this establishment of Catholicism as the predominant Christian religion (Protestants have throughout Austria's history remained a relatively small group), Austria's history as a multinational state has made it necessary for Habsburg rulers to deal w ...

See also:

Austria, Austria - Origin and history of the name, Austria - History, Austria - Austria and the Holy Roman Empire, Austria - Modern history, Austria - Politics, Austria - Subdivisions, Austria - Geography, Austria - Climate, Austria - Economy, Austria - Demographics, Austria - Politics concerning ethnic groups Volksgruppenpolitik, Austria - Religion, Austria - Culture, Austria - Miscellaneous topics

Read more here: » Austria: Encyclopedia II - Austria - Religion

Austria has a well-developed social market economy and a high standard of living. Until the 1980s many of Austria's largest industry firms were nationalised, however in recent years privatisation has reduced state holdings to a level comparable to other European economies. Labour movements are particularly strong in Austria and have large influence on labour politics. Germany has historically been the main trading partner of Austria, making it vulnerable to rapid changes in the German economy. Slow growth in Germany and elsewhere in t ...

See also:

Austria, Austria - Origin and history of the name, Austria - History, Austria - Austria and the Holy Roman Empire, Austria - Modern history, Austria - Politics, Austria - Subdivisions, Austria - Geography, Austria - Climate, Austria - Economy, Austria - Demographics, Austria - Politics concerning ethnic groups Volksgruppenpolitik, Austria - Religion, Austria - Culture, Austria - Miscellaneous topics

Read more here: » Austria: Encyclopedia II - Austria - Economy

Little is known of the early dwellers in the Alps, save from the scanty accounts preserved by Roman and Greek historians and geographers. A few details have come down to us of the conquest of many of the Alpine tribes by Augustus. The successive emigration and occupation of the Alpine region by various Teutonic tribes from the 5th to the 6th centuries are known only in outline, because to them, as to the Frankish kings and emperors, the Alps offered a route from one place to another rather than a permanent residence. It is not ...

See also:

Alps, Alps - Geography, Alps - Subdivision, Alps - Main chains, Alps - Principal passes, Alps - Climate, Alps - Geology, Alps - Political history, Alps - Exploration, Alps - Flora, Alps - Fauna

Read more here: » Alps: Encyclopedia II - Alps - Political history

The Alps arose as a result of the pressure exerted on sediments of the Tethys Ocean basin as its Mesozoic and early Cenozoic strata were pushed against the stable Eurasian landmass by the northward-moving African landmass. Most of this occurred during the Oligocene and Miocene epochs. The pressure formed great recumbent folds, or nappes, that rose out of what had become the Tethys Sea and pushed northward, often breaking and sliding one over the other to form gigantic thrust faults. Crystalline rocks, which are exposed in the higher central regions, are the ...

See also:

Alps, Alps - Geography, Alps - Subdivision, Alps - Main chains, Alps - Principal passes, Alps - Climate, Alps - Geology, Alps - Political history, Alps - Exploration, Alps - Flora, Alps - Fauna

Read more here: » Alps: Encyclopedia II - Alps - Geology

A natural vegetation limit with altitude is given by the presence of the chief deciduous trees — oak, beech, ash and sycamore maple. These do not reach exactly to the same elevation, nor are they often found growing together; but their upper limit corresponds accurately enough to the change from a temperate to a colder climate that is further proved by a change in the wild herbaceous vegetation. This limit usually lies about 1200 m above the sea on the north side of the Alps, but on the southern slopes it often rises to 150 ...

See also:

Alps, Alps - Geography, Alps - Subdivision, Alps - Main chains, Alps - Principal passes, Alps - Climate, Alps - Geology, Alps - Political history, Alps - Exploration, Alps - Flora, Alps - Fauna

Read more here: » Alps: Encyclopedia II - Alps - Flora

Austria became a federal, parliamentarian, democratic republic through the Federal Constitution of 1920. It was reintroduced in 1945 to the nine states of the Federal Republic. The head of state is the Federal President, who is directly elected. The chairman of the Federal Government is the Federal Chancellor, who is appointed by the president. The government can be removed from office by either a presidential decree or by vote of no confidence in the lower chamber of parliament, the Nationalrat. The Parliament of Austria consists of ...

See also:

Austria, Austria - Origin and history of the name, Austria - History, Austria - Austria and the Holy Roman Empire, Austria - Modern history, Austria - Politics, Austria - Subdivisions, Austria - Geography, Austria - Climate, Austria - Economy, Austria - Demographics, Austria - Politics concerning ethnic groups Volksgruppenpolitik, Austria - Religion, Austria - Culture, Austria - Miscellaneous topics

Read more here: » Austria: Encyclopedia II - Austria - Politics

Austria is a largely mountainous country due to its location in the Alps. The Central Eastern Alps, Northern Limestone Alps and Southern Limestone Alps are all partly in Austria. Of the total area of Austria (84,000 km²), only about a quarter can be considered low lying, and only 32% of the country is below 500 metres. The high mountainous Alps in the west of Austria flatten somewhat into low lands and plains in the east of the country. Austria may be divided into 5 different areas. The biggest area are the Austrian Alps, which const ...

See also:

Austria, Austria - Origin and history of the name, Austria - History, Austria - Austria and the Holy Roman Empire, Austria - Modern history, Austria - Politics, Austria - Subdivisions, Austria - Geography, Austria - Climate, Austria - Economy, Austria - Demographics, Austria - Politics concerning ethnic groups Volksgruppenpolitik, Austria - Religion, Austria - Culture, Austria - Miscellaneous topics

Read more here: » Austria: Encyclopedia II - Austria - Geography

Austria's capital Vienna is one of Europe's major cities with a population exceeding 1.6 million (2 million with suburbs) and constitutes a melting pot of citizens from all over Central and Eastern Europe. In contrast to this Metropolis, other cities do not exceed 1 million inhabitants, in fact the second largest city Graz is home of 305,000 people (followed by Linz with 180,000, Salzburg with 145,000 and Innsbruck with 134.803 (2005)). All other cities have fewer than 100,000 inhabitants. Austrians of German mother tong ...

See also:

Austria, Austria - Origin and history of the name, Austria - History, Austria - Austria and the Holy Roman Empire, Austria - Modern history, Austria - Politics, Austria - Subdivisions, Austria - Geography, Austria - Climate, Austria - Economy, Austria - Demographics, Austria - Politics concerning ethnic groups Volksgruppenpolitik, Austria - Religion, Austria - Culture, Austria - Miscellaneous topics

Read more here: » Austria: Encyclopedia II - Austria - Demographics