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 AUSTRIA
     

Coat of arms

National anthem (mp3)
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 General information
Inhabited since the Stone Age, the Austrian area has had a long history of occupations, territorial struggles, war and rulers. The most significant rulers, the Germanic Habsburgs, ruled Austria for 640 years. Their imperial culture was centered in Vienna. For several centuries already, Vienna has been a masterpiece European city .

The Habsburgs Austrian Empire was completely dismantled by 1918, at the end of World War I. During World War II, Adolf Hitler annexed all that remained into the German Third Reich. WWII ended in 1945, with Hitler defeated, and the Allies began a brief occupation and reconstruction effort. On May 15th, 1955, the Austrian State Treaty proclaimed Austria to be an independent republic, and its modern history began in earnest.
 
Vienna wiener stand

  
Austrian Parliament in Vienna
Landlocked in central Europe, Austria is today one of the continent's most influential countries in both economic and political issues. Over the last half-century, the extraordinary Alpine scenery and cultural attractions of Austria and its cities, have transformed it into a major tourism destination. A prosperous, democratic country, Austria entered the European Union's Economic Monetary Union in 1999.

Perhaps no one country can match the musical resumé of Austria. It's the homeland of legendary composers like Brahms, Haydn, Mahler, Mozart, Schubert and the Strausses - both father and son. In addition, the German-born Ludwig van Beethoven lived in Vienna for most of his adult life. The current image of Austria (the home of the Viennese Waltz, the Vienna Boys Choir and dancing Lipizzaner horses), is one of progress, stability and classical music heritage. Combine that with an abundance of natural beauty, spectacular mountain vistas, castles, cosmopolitan cities, the Danube River Valley, music festivals, and of course - world class Alpine skiing and resorts - and Austria paints a very pleasant picture, indeed.

Austria's Innsbruck hosted the 1964 and 1976 Olympic Winter Games. Salzburg is a candidate city for the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Austria - a place to ski
 
Mozart's birthplace in Salzburg
  • 3-Letter abbreviation: AUT
  • 2-Letter abbreviation: AT
  • Country common name: Austria
  • Country official name: Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich)
  • Continent: Europe
  • Capital: Vienna (Wien)
  • Other major cities: Linz, Graz, Salzburg, Innsbruck
  • Currency: Euro
  • Official languages: German
  • Recognized regional languages: Slovenian, Croatian, Hungarian
  • Motto: Currently none. Formerly, Austriae est imperare orbi universo (Latin , "It is Austria's destiny to rule the world")
  • National holiday: National Day, 26 October (1955), commemorates the State Treaty restoring national sovereignty and the end of occupation and the passage of the law on permanent neutrality
 Geographic information
  • Surface area: 83,858 km²
  • Highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m
  • Neighbouring countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 35 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 330 km, Switzerland 164 km
  • Neighbouring seas and oceans: None
 Population
  • Population (in millions): 8.29
  • Gross domestic product (GDP) per inhabitant (in US dollars): 35,500 (2006)
  • Density (inhabitants per km²): 99
  • Average age (in years): 41.3
  • Life expectancy at birth (in years): 79.21
 Telephone & Internet communication
  • Country international telephone code: + 43
  • Internet code: .at
  • Number of Internet users: 4.65 million (2005)