<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Austria<nl>Geography</hdr><body>
<list>
<item><hi format=bold>Location:</hi> Central Europe, between Germany and Hungary
<item><hi format=bold>Area:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>total area:</hi> 83,850 sq km
<item>• <hi format=ital>land area:</hi> 82,730 sq km
<item>• <hi format=ital>comparative area:</hi> slightly smaller than Maine
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Land boundaries:</hi> total 2,496 km, Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 37 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 262 km, Switzerland 164 km
<item><hi format=bold>Coastline:</hi> 0 km (landlocked)
<item><hi format=bold>Climate:</hi> temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain in lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional showers
<item><hi format=bold>Terrain:</hi> in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping
<item>• <hi format=ital>meadows and pastures:</hi> 24%
<item>• <hi format=ital>forest and woodland:</hi> 39%
<item>• <hi format=ital>other:</hi> 19%
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Irrigated land:</hi> 40 sq km (1989)
<item><hi format=bold>Environment:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>current issues:</hi> some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants
<item>• <hi format=ital>natural hazards:</hi> NA
<item>• <hi format=ital>international agreements:</hi> party to—Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified—Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Note:</hi> landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere