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AUSTRIA’S GEOGRAPHY & LANDSCAPE

Educational Video This 10-minute video gives a brief insight into Austria’s geography. Scan the QR code with your phone to watch!

about 4ºF (-15ºC). The weather here is characterized by frequent heavy thunderstorms. To the northeast and east lie the respective Vienna and Danube basins, Austria’s driest areas. Because the air is so dry, they rarely receive a deep snowfall, but what snow there is can last four weeks during the cold winters. The summers are warm but not hot, with an average of about 68ºF (20ºC). If you don’t like cool weather, Austria is not the country for you! Bodies of Water While it has many rivers and lakes, Austria’s most important body of water is the Danube River, which is 217.4 miles (350 kilometers) long. This waterway bisects the northern section of the country as it flows from west to east. The Danube is an important means of transportation and has been the focus of songs and stories throughout history, notably the “Blue Danube” waltz by Johann Strauss. Austria has many lakes within its borders. One of these is Lake Neusiedl, a bird haven home to many unique species. Another is Lake Langbathsee, which is surrounded by scenery so picturesque that in prior times, Emperor Franz Josef built a summer lodge here. The Attersee is the largest lake in Austria, followed by the Traunsee. These large, deep lakes are cooler than the rest, and their water is of a better quality for drinking.

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