The Austrian Empire, 1804-1867. The Austrian Empire was the second largest empire in Europe, after the Russian Empire.
Countries in Europe today
The climate of Austria is alpine, which is also called a mountain climate or highland climate. This is because the alpine climate is the weather for land that has a very high altitude. No month ever has an average temperature higher than 50°F. This climate is named after the Alps, a mountain range that stretches across Southern Europe. The name for the part of the Alps in Austria is the Austrian Alps, and they cover 62% of the land of Austria.
A satellite photo of Europe showing the climate
Because most of the land is covered in high mountains, most areas of Austria are uninhabitable. Less than 20% of Austria can be farmed. About another 20% of the land is used for grazing dairy cows. 10% of Austria is part of the Bohemian Forest, which makes a natural border between Austria on one side and the Czech Republic on the other.
Austrian Alps
Austria is also home to the Danube River, Europe’s second longest river (the longest is the Volga River in Russia). The Alps make travel difficult, but this international waterway makes traveling from the North Sea to the Black Sea possible.
The Danube River. It travels most of the way across Europe, but it must connect to the Rhine River to reach the North Sea.
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