Austria nature and its protection. Austrian nature: picturesque mountain landscapes

Interesting facts about Austria: geography, nature, history and culture of Austria, Schönbrunn Palace, musicians and composers of Austria.

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Austria is the birthplace of great musicians and composers, a country where high culture coexists with beautiful mountain landscapes and excellent gastronomy. If you still know little about this state, then 15 interesting facts will help to get to know more about not only geographic features provinces here, but also with an eventful history of the region.

Geography

1. Most of the territory of Austria is covered with mountains. The Eastern Alps make up 62% of the total area of ​​the country. The highest point, Mount Großglockner (3798 m), is also the second highest peak in Europe. It is here that the largest glacier, Pasterets, is located, which has been actively melting since the 19th century. It is here that all the best ski resorts in Austria are located.
2. The Krimml cascade on the Krimler Ahe river in the federal state of Salzburg is the highest in Europe. The view of the falling water from a height of 380 meters will impress anyone who comes to see this magnificent natural landmark.
3. The most big lake natural origin - Neusiedler See. This is the fourth largest body of water in Europe, located in the federal state of Burgenland. Its southern tip belongs to Hungary. The lake itself is saline and is under the protection of UNESCO. Clear waters and nice beaches turned the coastal area into a popular holiday destination. By the way, other Austrian lakes are no less rich in entertainment and beauty.
4. Today's Austria is the German-speaking part of a huge empire called Austria-Hungary, ruled by the Habsburg dynasty from 1526 to 1918. This imperial family was one of the most powerful in Europe for several centuries. Most of the population is Catholics (about 90%). There are also Protestants and Muslims.
5. Austria has five big cities: Vienna, the largest locality and the capital of the state, Graz, the second largest, Linz, a port city on the Danube River, Salzburg, which is of great cultural value, and Innsbruck, the capital of the Tyrol region. About one quarter of the Austrian population (at least 20%) lives in Vienna.

History

1. The name of the state comes from ancient German and means “ eastern country". The flag of Austria is one of the oldest in the world. Two colors, red and white, symbolize the blood of the fighters for the independence of the republic and the Danube River. According to legend, the choice of these particular colors is associated with the events of the 12th century, when Leopold V of Austria, during one of the battles of the third crusade doused his white shirt with blood, but, removing his belt, found a strip of fabric untouched in red. At first, the flag was his banner, and only after that it became the flag of the whole country.
2. The territory of Austria has been inhabited by people since prehistoric times. In particular, in 1991, a body was found in the ice of the Alps between Austria and Italy. ancient man... However, the real history of the region began at a time when the local lands were chosen by the Celts, who were later conquered by the Romans. Austria was first mentioned in documents at the end of the 10th century.
3. The inhabitants of Salzburg in the old days were called nothing else than "bullwashers" (Stierwascher). There are two versions of the origin of the unusual nickname. According to the first, there was a custom among the population to wash the meat of a freshly slaughtered animal in the waters of the river flowing here, and in honor of this tradition a name was given. Another legend says that during the siege of one of the fortresses of Salzburg, the defenders suffered greatly from hunger, but did not want to surrender. To deceive the enemies, they came up with the following: every day they painted one surviving bull in different colors and, as if by chance, showed him besieging. Such tactics led to the fact that the enemies retreated, having lost hope of starvation to take the fortress. At the same time, the unfortunate bull remained for centuries, giving the nickname to the population of the whole city.
4. The famous Queen Marie Antoinette, wife of Louis XVI, who died tragically during the Great French revolution, was the youngest daughter of Emperor Franz I and Maria Theresa. The latter successfully ruled the Austrian territories and was an active reformer. Among the representatives of the Habsburg dynasty, it was Maria Theresa who enjoyed the greatest popularity.
5. The Semmering Railway in Austria is the world's first mountain railway, the construction of which began in the middle of the 19th century. This engineering miracle functions to this day, being part of the Southern Railway. Implementation of the project was a difficult and time-consuming process, especially considering the elevation differences and difficult mountainous terrain.

The founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, created his theory while drinking coffee and discussing pressing problems in wonderful Austrian coffee houses.

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The culture

1. Austria is the birthplace of many famous composers, whose names are familiar to everyone from childhood. Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Liszt, Strauss, Mahler - just a small list of world famous authors of genius musical works. The renowned Viennese Waltz was created here. The music that accompanied the Austrian folk dance was taken as a basis.
2. - the main attraction not only in Vienna, but throughout Austria. This greatest monument architecture - one of the best "representatives" of the Austrian version of the Baroque style. 1441 rooms of the palace excite the imagination of both those who are just about to visit the imperial residence, and those who have seen all this splendor live.
3. The founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, created his theory while drinking coffee and discussing pressing problems in wonderful Austrian coffee houses. The influence of this teaching on the science of man, and indeed the entire culture as a whole, cannot be assessed. Freud was and remains the greatest scientist who made a giant breakthrough and left behind numerous disciples.
4. Arnold Schwarzenegger - a world famous Hollywood actor and former governor of California - is not at all a native of one of the American states... His birthplace is a small village near the city of Graz in Austria.
5. The world's oldest Ferris wheel is located in the Prater Park in Vienna. It was built in the 19th century. Of course, the height of 65 meters is nothing compared to modern attractions, but lovers of everything unusual will definitely appreciate the old-fashionedness of the inhabitants of the Austrian capital.

1.Natural features

2. Environment

2. Economic situation

2.1 general information

2.2 Geography of foreign economic relations

3. Tourist attractions.

3.2 Lower Austria

3.3 Upper Austria

Introduction

Austria is a country of alpine peaks, meadows, mountain lakes and cool forests. Cozy old cities living in their unhurried and serene rhythm. Austria is called "the open heart of Europe". Vienna city - recognized Cultural Center Europe with many art galleries, luxurious palaces, concert halls, majestic squares, picturesque streets. The city of poets and musicians surrounded by the green necklace of the Vienna Woods.

Holidays in Austria are especially loved by fans of winter sports. Tyrol - the highest mountainous region of Austria is considered to be one of the most popular holiday destinations. Austrian resorts offer a lot of opportunities for a great vacation: 22,000 km. perfectly prepared slopes, the world's best ski schools, the most modern equipment you can buy or rent.

1.Natural features

Natural contrasts have formed diverse landscapes in the center of Europe, which attract with their beauty and uniqueness. The Alps are a forest area. The influence of the inhabitants of Austria was strongly reflected in the nature of the Alps. In place of dense forests, there are now pastures and agricultural land, thanks to which this small country fully provides its population with products and a large army of tourists. Almost two thirds of the area of ​​Austria is occupied by mountainous terrain. And only one third is located in the cozy valleys of the foothills with a mild, even, temperate climate. The mountainous nature of the country determines the presence of a large number of valleys and foothills, which are home to a large number of alpine villages and resorts. Almost all the lands here are ideally suited for downhill skiing, so the relief of its surface is crossed. Austria - skiing, two complementary concepts. This small country is located not only horizontally, but also vertically, which is facilitated by the high mountains of the Alps. Here you can find yourself in completely opposite types of climate during the day - from subtropics to frost and snowstorms.

The main thing that determines the natural features of almost not the entire territory of Austria is the Alps. Their white-headed peaks are visible from everywhere in the country. Almost ¾ of the country is occupied by the Eastern Alps, which are lower and wider than the Western ones. The border between them coincides with the western border of Austria and runs along the valley of the upper Rhine. The Eastern Alps have fewer glaciers, more forests and meadows than the Western ones. The highest point of Austria - the Großglockner mountain in the Hohe Tauern - does not reach 4 thousand meters. (3797 m). From the highest peaks flows down the largest glacier of the Eastern Alps - Pasierce - over 10 km long. Other peaks of the ridge granite-gneiss zone of the Ötztal, Stubai, and Zillertal Alps are also covered with snow and ice. In this crystalline zone, the so-called alpine landforms are most pronounced - sharp ridges, steep-walled valleys plowed out by glaciers. To the north and south of the ridge zone is the famous ice - Eisriesenwelt (world ice giants) in the Tennengebirge mountains, south of Salzburg. The names of the mountain ranges themselves speak of the inhospitableness, wildness of these places: Totes-Gebirge (meter-high mountains), Hellen-Gebirge (hellish mountains), etc. The limestone Alps to the north pass into the Prealps, which descend in steps to the Danube. These are low, rolling mountains, overgrown with forest, in some places their slopes are plowed up, and wide sunny valleys are quite densely populated.

If it is appropriate to compare the geological young Alps with the Caucasus, then the mountains lying on the other, left side of the Danube, resemble the Urals. These are the southern spurs of Šumava, part of the ancient Bohemian massif, almost to the ground destroyed by time. The height of this border elevation is only 500 meters, and only in a few places it reaches 1000 meters.

Areas with calm relief, flat or hilly lowlands occupy only about 1/5 of the country's area. This is, first of all, the Danube part of Austria and the adjacent western edge of the middle Danube plain. The overwhelming majority of the population lives here and is the "center of gravity" of the entire country.

1.2. Climate.

Large contrasts of relief - from lowlands to snowy mountains - determine the vertical zoning of the climate, soils, and vegetation. Austria has vast areas of fertile land, warm and rather humid (700-900 mm of precipitation per year) "grape" climate. This word is everything: a rather warm, long summer with an average July temperature of + 20 degrees and a warm sunny autumn. The plains and foothills have relatively mild winters with an average January temperature of 1-5 degrees. However, most of the Alpine part of the country is "deprived" of warmth. With a rise for every 100 meters, the temperature drops by 0.5 - 0.6 degrees. The snow line is located at an altitude of 2500-2800 meters. Summers in the high mountains are cold, damp, windy, and often sleet. In winter, there is even more precipitation here: on the slopes of the mountains, gigantic layers of snow accumulate, which often for no apparent reason break down and rush down in avalanches. crushing everything in its path. A rare winter goes by without casualties; dwellings, roads, power lines are destroyed ... And sometimes in the middle of winter the snow suddenly disappears. This was the case, for example, in the days of the "White" Olympics at the beginning of 1976 in the vicinity of Innsburg. Usually snows are "driven away" by warm southerly winds - hair dryers .

1.3 Environment

The environment in most of Austria is not yet under the threat of pollution as in most other industrialized countries in Europe. First of all, this concerns the Alps with their sparse population and generally insignificant industry in relation to this vast territory. The Austrian authorities, interested in attracting foreign tourists to the country, are taking some measures aimed at limiting environmental pollution, but not enough. The democratic public and academia in Austria are sounding the alarm about the unacceptable level of industrial waste pollution of the Danube below Vienna and the rivers Mura and Mürz. Reserves play an important role in the system of nature conservation measures. There are 12 of them in Austria with a total area of ​​0.5 million hectares. They are found in all natural zones - from the steppe surroundings of Lake Neusiedler See to the high Tauern. Most of the nature reserves are located in the Alps.

2. Economic situation

2.1 General information.

Austria is a developed industrial and agricultural country. It is one of the most developed countries in Europe. GDP per capita in 2002 amounted to 24.7 thousand euros (in 1995 prices). This indicator is constantly growing (in 1990 it was equal to 20.1 thousand, in 1995 - 21.4 thousand euros), and in US dollars at current prices and at purchasing power parity in 2001 - 28.2 thousand (with an average EU 25.5 thousand). Thus, Austria was ahead of Sweden, Great Britain, Italy, France, Germany, and was second only to Denmark, the Netherlands, Ireland and Luxembourg.

The volume of GDP in constant prices in 2002 was 200.7 billion euros. GDP production per 1 employed in 2001 (labor productivity) - 58.3 thousand euros.

The Austrian economy is distinguished by a relatively low level of inflation (in 2002 - 1.8%) and unemployment (in 2000 - 3.7% of the working-age population, in 2002 - 4.3%). The consumer price index in 2002 to 1996 was 108.8, while in the EU as a whole - 110.8.

Approximately 2.2% of GDP is produced in agriculture and forestry, 32.3% - in industry, energy and construction, 65.5% - in services, trade, transport and communications, in the banking and insurance system. One third of the volume of industrial production falls on the state sector of the economy.

However, the Austrian economy has a number of problems associated with European integration. The agro-industrial sector is of particular concern in connection with the new conditions of competition dictated by the countries of the united Europe. The EU's price and quota policy is contributing to a painful transformation of agriculture, which is causing increasingly fierce opposition from Austrian farmers. As a result of Austria's adherence to the EU's single agricultural policy, 69% of all agricultural land was found to be unprofitable.

The total amount of accumulated foreign direct investment in Austria at the end of 2001 was estimated at 23-24 billion euros. Of these, about 45% are in the FRG, 28% - in other EU countries, 12% - in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, 7% - in the USA and Canada and 8% - in other countries

By attracting foreign investment and cooperating with foreign partners, Austrian companies are beginning to form the most important technological industries that were practically absent in the country's economy (telecommunications equipment).

2.2 Geography of foreign economic relations.

The Austrian economy cannot develop without close ties with foreign countries, and its import of goods and capital exceeds their export. But the services it provides to foreign partners exceeds the services it receives from them. First of all, we are talking about tourism, which plays an important role in the country's economy.
Foreign trade of Austria has a negative balance, that is, the value of imports of its goods exceeds exports. Raw materials and semi-finished products occupy a significant place in Austria's exports: timber and products of its partial processing, ferrous metals, products of the chemical industry, and electricity. Some types of machinery and equipment are exported from finished products, river ships... Small quantities of food are exported.
Mostly finished products are imported, and primarily consumer goods; imports of machinery and equipment, automobiles, and consumer and industrial electronics are somewhat less important. Oil, natural gas, coal and coke, metal ores, and chemical raw materials are imported in large quantities. They also import food and flavoring goods, products of tropical agriculture, and a lot of fodder.
In general, more than 85% of Austria's foreign trade is oriented towards the world capitalist market. Germany takes the first place in exports and especially in imports of Austria.
The policy of state neutrality pursued by Austria is a good basis for the further development of foreign economic relations with all countries of the world.

3. Tourist attractions.

Austria is definitely a country of year-round recreation. Despite the fact that many associate Austria with winter tourism, sightseeing, cultural and historical buildings of the country with the richest traditions and glorious musical taste can be easily combined with any time of the year.

Austria, considered the most beautiful country in Central Europe, attracts tourists with the beauty of Vienna and the famous ski resorts as well as the picturesque alpine villages of Tyrol, magnificent national parks and the "Lake District" in the west of the country.

Vienna, located in the most picturesque place of the middle course of the Danube and surrounded by the beautiful spurs of the Vienna Woods, is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and the "musical capital of Europe". The fusion of many cultures over the centuries has created a unique architecture here, badly damaged during the Second World War, but almost completely restored by hardworking crowns.

The symbol of the city is the Cathedral of St. Stephen (Stephansdom), the patron saint of the Austrian capital. The cathedral is over 800 years old. Under the catacombs are the ancient catacombs - the burial place of representatives of the Habsburg dynasty, its interior decoration is simply mesmerizingly beautiful, and a Turkish cannonball is embedded in its spire, which fell into the cathedral during the Turkish siege of the city in the 16th century. On the walls of the Stephansdom you can see the measures of length, size and weight, which were used to check the goods when buying in the Middle Ages, and from its observation deck you can see a magnificent view of the Danube and Vienna. Opposite the cathedral lies the beautiful Stephansplatz square and the postmodern glass building of the Haas House commercial center. Graben Street, the "heart of the city", another symbol of Vienna, departs from the square, where such famous sights as the Peitzoile Column, the Sacher Hotel and the Peterskirche Church are concentrated. The most fashionable shops are also located here. It is interesting to get acquainted with the nearby Michalerkirche, San Marie am Gestade, Franciscanerkirche, the neo-Gothic Town Hall (1872-1883), one of the most beautiful squares in the world - Josefplatz with the Palace Chapel and Burgtheater (1874-1888) located on it, the building Parliament (1883), in front of which the statue of Pallas Athena rises, and the famous Vienna Opera(1861-1869) - the venue for the cult annual Opera Ball.

Somewhat southwest of Graben and Josefplatz lies the majestic complex of the Hofburg Imperial Palace (XIII-XIX centuries), built on the site of a Bavarian fort (1278), which now houses a number of the country's government organizations and the OSCE. The premises of the palace house the Spanish Riding School - the famous Winter Manege of the Habsburgs (1735), the Schatzkammer treasure exhibition (in her collection the crown of the Holy Roman Empire and the Austrian imperial crown made in 962), a separate hall of the Burgundian Treasury (regalia , ceremonial robes, jewelry and relics of the Order of the Golden Fleece and the Dukes of Burgundy, including the "Sacred Spear" that allegedly pierced the crucified Christ), the imperial reception hall and the bedroom of Kaiser Franz Joseph.

The separate buildings of the complex house the Vienna House of Arts, the unique Austrian National Library (18th century), which contains more than 2 million books, sheet music, manuscripts and ancient manuscripts, as well as the Augustinkirche court church and one of the richest art collections in the world - the Albertina Gallery (1800). Next to the Hofburg Palace there is a unique Petit Pointe workshop, where for many centuries handbags, brooches and miniature snuffboxes embroidered with tiny crosses have been made.

You should definitely visit the Church of St. Ruprecht and the summer residence of the Habsburgs - Schönbrunn Palace, which has more than 1400 rooms and halls. Now it houses the Museum of Weapons, a collection of costumes and horse-drawn carriages "Wagenburg", a beautiful park with fountains, a greenhouse and a zoo. The palace of Prince Eugene of Savoy - Belvedere Castle (1714-1723) with the Gallery of Austrian Art of the 19th-20th centuries, located on a hill in the southeastern part of the city, is an excellent example of architecture. (the largest collection of Klimt, Schiele and Kokoschka) and the chambers of Archduke Ferdinand, the Karlskirche baroque church (1739) and Stadtpark, the University, the palace of Count Manfeld-Fondi and the Vatican Church.

The pride of Vienna - beautiful parks, various in their appearance and purpose. The Prater Park is considered the most "popular" park in Vienna (has been in operation since the 18th century) and is famous for the largest Ferris wheel in the world (65 m) and excellent restaurants. The historic Augarten Park regularly hosts dozens of musical performances and symphony concerts. The famous Vienna Woods park, located in the vicinity of the capital, in the foothills of the Eastern Alps, is a whole forest area with its own towns and hotels, resorts and thermal springs. Bounded on the one hand by the picturesque Danube Valley and vineyards, and on the other by the famous spa area of ​​Baden and Bad Voslau, the Vienna Woods is a favorite vacation spot for Viennese and visitors alike. The Austrian capital probably has more interesting museums than in any other city in the world.

Not a single tourist can resist the temptation to visit the famous Viennese cafes and restaurants, which are the same integral part of the city as Stephansdom or the "crooked house" of the Hundertwasser House. Viennese cafes are the oldest in the world. The most famous are the classic "Maria Theresa", the fashionable "Do-and-Co", the modernist "Museum", as well as "Mozart", "Fiacre", "Central", "Melange" and "Demel", where the most variegated audience gathers, Freud's favorite café is Landman, the respectable Sacher and Havelka, whose walls are decorated with paintings left as payment by famous artists, as well as Dommeier, in which Strauss made his debut.

The restaurants in the capital are no less famous and charming. The historic "Piaristenkeller" has two of its own museums and offers dishes based on recipes from the 18th century. The Greichenbeisl restaurant is the oldest "drinking establishment" in Vienna; a tavern operated here already in the 16th century. It was visited by almost all famous people of the country and the world - from Behoven and Strauss to Mark Twain and Chaliapin. Also famous are the Plaschutta restaurants on Auchofstrasse, Temple on Praterstrasse, Hansen and Stomach, as well as the Heuriger wine cellars in the Grinzing district. In total, there are more than 180 cozy "heurigers" in Vienna - from tiny, no more than a living room, where regulars come from neighboring streets, to huge, luxuriously furnished halls, where you can meet both a simple crown and an aristocrat from the "high society".

Vienna surroundings

The surroundings of Vienna are just as good as the capital itself. On the banks of the Danube, 70 km west of Vienna, lie the ruins of the Durnstein fortress (12th century), of which the legendary English king Richard the Lionheart was a prisoner. In Tulln, in the Atzenburg castle, concerts dedicated to Schubert are held throughout the year (in these places was the estate of the great composer's uncle, which he often visited). According to "The Song of the Nibelungs", it was here that the first battle of the legendary Siegfried with the king of the Huns Etzel (Attila) took place. Nearby lie the ruins of the Araburg fortress - last stronghold Protestants in Austria. The Cistercian monasteries of Heiligenkreutse are located 25 km south-west of Vienna. In Gumpoldskirchen stands the castle of the German knights with the parish church of St. Michael and the statue of St. Nepomuk on the picturesque bridge, as well as the famous wine cellars. Close to Vienna is the town of Klosterneuburg, where local monks have been producing wine for almost a thousand years, so the local wine school is considered one of the oldest in Europe.

3.2 Lower Austria

The famous Baden lies 25 km south of the capital, among the green hills of the Vienna Woods, fields and vineyards. This resort with healing hot sulfur springs has been known since the days of Ancient rome- here in the II century. n. NS. the camp of the Roman cohort was located, here he spent last years life of Marcus Aurelius. In 1804-1834. the city was the summer imperial residence, all the nobility and cultural and art workers came here. The healing water of Baden is still used today for bathing, drinking and preventing rheumatic diseases, arthrosis, diseases of the spine and joints, as well as for general recovery and health procedures. Be sure to visit Theresienbad ("Baths of Theresia") and Theresiengarten ("Theresia's garden") with many exotic plants, which was founded in 1792 in honor of the Empress Maria Theresa.

Baden's parks are separate attractions in their own right - an orchestra plays every day in the Spa Park, there is a gazebo "Beethoven's Temple", a flower clock and monuments to Strauss and Lanner, and from late June to early September the Operetta Festival is held on the "Summer Arena". The Doblhofpark is famous for the Schloss-Weikersdorf castle and the wonderful rose garden, where the famous "Baden Rose Days" are held annually. City gardens and parks on the outskirts of the city merge smoothly with the Vienna Woods and the vineyards of the Helenthal valley.

Baden is home to the largest casino in Europe in magnificent Palace Congress, gallery in the Beethoven house-museum, the majestic Villa Menotti, the Jünger gallery, the Museum of Emperor Franz Joseph, the museum of dolls and games, a beautiful hippodrome, many quiet side streets with houses and villas in the Biedermeier style, a large pedestrian zone, cozy coffee and heurigers. Near Baden are the beautiful Klosterneuburg church, the historic Purkersdorf, as well as many chic villas and parks.

St. Pölten

The federal province of Lower Austria lies in the lower reaches of the Danube in the north-east of the country, on the border with the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The provincial capital is Sankt Pölten. It is the oldest Austrian city and the youngest capital of the federal state. It is interesting to visit the City Hall, the Im-Hof Museum on Hessstrasse, the Pottenbrunn Palace with a collection of medieval cups, the Schallaburg Palace, the city cultural center with the Festival Hall, Exhibition Hall and a modern tower, Historical Museum Lower Austria and the Museum of Modern Art in the Baroque Karmeliterhof Palace, the Romano-Gothic Cathedral Domplatz House, the Bischofshof Episcopate Museum and Herzogenburg Abbey, Nussdorf and the Treismauer Dinosaur Park.

From Sankt Pölten, most excursions to the area of ​​beautiful vineyards - the Wachau valley, to the countless small lakes of the Waldviertel region surrounded by dense coniferous forests or to the foot of the picturesque Voralpenland mountain begin. In Asparn an der Zaya there is a Prehistoric Museum under open air, in Spitz an der Donau there is a museum of shipping, and in Waldkirchen an der Thaya there is a museum of dolls.

Castles and palaces

Medieval castles and palaces are scattered throughout the region. The Artstetten Palace (16th century) is very interesting with the Franz-Ferdinand Museum, the palace church and the crypt, where Franz-Ferdinand and his wife, who were killed in Sarajevo in 1914, are buried.The Baroque Riegersburg (1735) is considered the most beautiful palaces in Lower Austria. and the Renaissance Schallaburg. However, they are not inferior to the ancient fortress Rappotgenstein, one of the strongholds of Freemasonry - the Baroque Rosenau palace, the Renaissance Weitra palace (1606), the former border fortress Raabas (XI century), the Wiener Neustadt fortress (XIII century) with the chapel of St. George (1460), the Renaissance castles of Greillenstein and Resenburg, the Orth castle (XIII century) in Ort an der Donau with a fishing museum and a local history museum, the summer residence of the emperor - Laxenburg and many other magnificent buildings.

Monasteries

The local monasteries are also beautiful - the Benedictine abbeys of Seitensteten (1112, rebuilt in 1719-1947), the masterpiece of the Austrian Baroque - Melk (976, rebuilt in 1702-1736), Altenburg (1144) and Göttweig ( 1083), Augustinian Dürnstein (1410), Herzogenburg (1244) and Klosterneuburg (1114) with a magnificent treasury of works of art, as well as the Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz (1133) with a Romanesque church, chapel (1295) .) and stained glass windows of the 13th century.

National parks

Donau-Auen National Park is the largest nature reserve in Central Europe and protects more than 5 thousand species of animals and birds, being at the same time a wonderful resting place. Tayatal National Park is located in the valley of one of the most beautiful rivers in Europe - Taya, which is the westernmost point, where many typical plant species of Pannonia grow. The surroundings of the river are "strewn" with beautiful meadows, beautiful cliffs of Paleozoic rocks and mountains teeming with cliffs, which gives the park a unique look.

Styria is a federal province of Austria bordering Slovenia and famous for a huge number of medieval castles and the "Land of Lakes" Salzkammergut. Ancient castles and monasteries are scattered throughout the region. Here are the country's largest baroque fortress Riegersburg with a Gothic chapel, a real knight's hall and a collection of medieval weapons, the Renaissance Herberstein castle (XIII-XVII centuries) with an armory and a hall of family portraits, the Mariazell pilgrimage church (1157) with a treasury, chapel with a silver altar (1727) and a miraculous statue of the 13th century, the former abbey of the Cistercian order in Neuberg (1350-1612), the Augustinian monastery in Forau (1163), the oldest Austrian monastery of the Cistercian order in the Rhine (1129) .) or the unique Benedictine monastery in Göss (1000), as well as many other monuments of history and architecture.

The administrative center of Styria, Graz is one of the ancient outposts of the Austrian Empire on the Turkish border and one of the most distinctive cities in the country. In the city you can see the episcopal palace, the ruins of the Schlossberg castle (XI century) destroyed in 1805 by Napoleon with the Urturm clock tower and the Glockenturm bell tower, the Cathedral of the Teutonic knights (XIII century), the old Town Hall (XVI century), Domkirche church (XII c.), the Mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II (1614), the famous Opera, which hosts the Opera Ball in January and the festival "Christmas in Styria" (January), University, Museum of Styria (including the Museum of Applied Arts with a rich collection articles made of tin and iron), the Museum of Forensic Science, the Arsenal ("Zeughaus") with the world's largest collection of medieval weapons (more than 30 thousand exhibits), the Aeronautics Museum, Schloss-Egenburg castle (1625) with an archaeological museum, the Alte gallery -Gallery with a large collection of medieval art and Herbstein Palace (17th century), which now also houses an art gallery.

Salzkammergut

The most attractive holiday destination in Styria is the "Land of Lakes" Salzkammergut. Lake Grundlsee (length 6 km, width - about a kilometer), together with Lake Altaussersee, forms the most picturesque alpine landscape, which has attracted the attention of tourists and artists for many decades. Lake Toplitzie, with its rugged rocky shores and cliffs of the Dead Mountains, has long been legendary. Lake Stubenbergsee in the east of Styria is no less picturesque and charming, and beautiful stalactite caves lie near Peggau.

South Carinthia

South Carinthia, which is often called the "Austrian Riviera" for the beauty of its nature, is countless mountains and valleys, about 1270 picturesque lakes, on the shores of which are scattered small resort towns with first-class hotels, beautiful beaches and complete recreation infrastructure, as well as famous ski centers.

Klagenfurt and the main resorts

Capital of Carinthia , Klagenfurt, founded in 1252 near the picturesque lake Wörther See. This is a very beautiful place, famous for its park "Minimundus" - a museum of world architectural masterpieces reduced by 25 times, as well as a miniature but fully functioning railway and a small port with ship models. Local attractions include the Renaissance Town Hall with the "hall of arms", the Baroque bishop's palace (18th century), the cathedral (16th century), the Museum of Carinthia, and the Happa Reptile Zoo and Dinosaur Park, one of the richest amphibian collections in Europe. In the western bay of Wörther See, among the forested spurs of the Alps, lies Velden - one of the best lake resorts in the country with the most modern hotels, casinos, beach cafes, shops and excellent cuisine, as well as the beautiful resorts of Pertschach with a water center, Warmbad Villach with its thermal springs and a national park (20 hectares), the green Krumpendorf and the picturesque Maria Wörth on a small peninsula on the southern shore of the lake ... Thermal complex Bad Blumau (15 thousand square meters of water area) with indoor and outdoor thermal pools (water temperature +36 C) is considered one of the most modern and technically equipped in Europe - here you can go through almost all imaginable and unthinkable procedures.

Fortresses and monasteries

In Carinthia, there are many medieval fortresses and monasteries - the Portia castle on the Drau (Drava) river, the Landkron over Lake Ossiacher See and the main Carinthian fortress - the Hochosterwitz castle, as well as the Frisach Dominican monastery with a magnificent basilica (1300), the Benedictine abbeys of St. Paul im Lavantal (1091), Ossiach (approximately 1028) and Millstatt (1060-1068) with a basilica (12th century), Romanesque arcade and an excellent museum. The Maria-Saal is home to the Open-Air Museum of Wooden Architecture, presenting real life-size peasant huts, as well as the architectural features, traditions and way of life of the Austrian countryside. In Treffen, the Elli Riel Doll Museum is located, which displays beautiful dolls (more than 650), created by the owner of the museum. In Gmünd there is a private Porsche Automobile Museum - more than 30 models of cars of the famous brand from the 50s of the XX century.

Nature of Carinthia

But the real treasure of Carinthia is its nature. Here lie the most famous lakes in the country - Wörther See, Ossiacher See, Milstetter See and Weissen See, as well as small Afritzer See, Faaker See with unique landscapes, Feld See, Köchacher See, Klopeiner See (the most warm in Austria), Pressegger See and Langsee, in which the water is amazingly clear and, thanks to thermal springs, warm. Mount Obir, located next to Eisenkappel in southwestern Carinthia, is famous for its stalactite caves. In the Nockberg National Park, which stretches at an altitude of 1300-2440 m, you can enjoy the majestic mountain landscapes and get acquainted with the age-old traditions of Austria. National park Hohe Tauern, covering an area of ​​1187 sq. km, attracts with the beauty of its peaks, glaciers, lakes and waterfalls, alpine flora and fauna, as well as the wonderful mountain village of Heiligenblut ("holy blood"), turned into a modern tourist center. Rosegg Nature Reserve protects over 350 different animal species and fragile alpine flora. The terrible Ragga gorge is also located nearby, over which hanging bridges stretch at a great height.

3.3 Upper Austria

The federal province of Upper Austria is located in the north of the country, on the border with the Czech Republic and Germany.

Linz - main city land and a major port on the Danube. The main attractions of Linz are the Trinity Column (1723), the Landhaus (Town Hall, 16th century), the Alter Dom cathedral (17th century), the Kefermarkt People's Garden and the Weinberg Castle (15th century). Like many cities in Austria, Linz is famous for its museums - the Museum of Upper Austria, the City Museum, the New Gallery and the Diocesan Museum.

Castles and monasteries

Upper Austria also has a huge number of historical castles - Walchen in Vöcklamarkt, Orth and Lahnschlossse palaces (XVII century) in Gmunden, the former residence of the Landfuerst in Wels (VIII century), the largest castle in Upper Austria - Schaunberg, Klam fortress with an arched Renaissance courtyard and two Gothic chapels, the Renaissance Grainburg castle with a vaulted gallery (1621), a hall for celebrations, a chapel and a shipping museum, as well as many other equally remarkable structures.

The most famous of the country's provincial monasteries, the Baroque St. Florian (1071), is located in the city of the same name at the burial site of St. Florian. The magnificent rooms, collections, chamber music festival and theater performances at Tillisburg Palace (July) attract thousands of tourists. Anton Bruckner is buried in the monastery church, the original Firefighting Museum and the former hunting lodge (1729) with the hunting museum in Hohenbrunn are located nearby. No less interesting are the monasteries in Mondsee (748) - the oldest monastery in Upper Austria, the Benedictine abbey in Lambach (1056) with a church dating from 1080, the monastery of the Trappist order in Engelszell (1293), the abbey in Schlägl (1218) with an underground chapel, or the Benedictine abbey in Kremsmünster founded in 777, famous for its Imperial Hall (1694) and observatory (1759).

The popular "Lake District" Salzkammergut continues into Upper Austria. Lakes Attersee, Irrsee, Traunsee, Kamersee, Hallstattersee and Mondsee are ideal for aquatic species sports and leisure activities. On the banks of the Wolfgangsee lies the beautiful resort of St. Wolfgang with a museum of dolls and the majestic Villa Wahler, and many interesting places... In Mondsee - the open-air museum of peasant economy "Rauchhaus". In Steyr, you should definitely visit the museums of his famous arms factories. In Obertraun - stalactite and ice caves. In Nutterbach - the largest amusement park "Wild West" in Austria, in Hinterbüchl - a unique underground lake, and in Hanserndorf - "Safari Park".

The federal province of Tyrol, bordering Italy, Switzerland and Germany, is often called the "heart of the Alps". There are more than 600 peaks here - "three-thousanders" and 5 glaciers. Combined with excellent ecology, this makes the region one of the best winter resorts in the world.

The main city of Tyrol is Innsbruck. Known since the XIII century, and since the XVI century. was the residence of Emperor Maximilian. It is a center for arts and crafts and watchmaking and one of the country's legendary mountain resorts. Innsbruck is a legend in alpine skiing: the city has twice hosted the Winter Olympic Games (1964 and 1976). All six ski areas in the vicinity of the city are combined into a single "Innsbruck Big Ski Pass" of 52 lifts. There are about 120 km of well-prepared trails at altitudes from 900 to 3200 m, more than 100 km of flat trails, a snowboard park and many trekking trails along the slopes of the surrounding mountains, and the city itself is a chain of shops and restaurants, fascinating night life and casinos.

In addition, in Innsbruck you can see the Hofburg Imperial Palace (XIV-XVIII centuries), Franciscan Cathedral (XVI century), Arsenal, Arc de Triomphe (1756), Hofkirche court church (XVI century) with a bronze tombstone of the emperor, castle Fürstenburg (15th century), St. Anne's Column (1703), City Tower, Maximilianeum Museum in Goldenes Dahl Palace ("Golden Roof"), Ambras Castle, Ferdinandeum Ethnographic Museum with a collection of Gothic paintings, Alpine Zoo with a circular panorama and the Museum of Tyrolean Art. In the town of Wattens, near Innsbruck, in underground cave the Museum of Crystal of the Austrian company "Swarovski" is located - the famous "Crystal Worlds of Swarovski". This is a real labyrinth of seven rooms, connected by narrow corridors and stairs. The halls display the smallest (0.8 mm) and the largest (310 thousand carats) crystal crystals of the world, included in the Guinness Book of Records, as well as the famous "leaked clock" by Dali made of crystal, the ceremonial decoration of the beloved horse of the Indian Maharajah, a mosaic path , a crystal hall and a wall lined with artificial crystals, 11 m high and weighing 12 tons!

Austria: Bratislava - Vienna / With Hungary: ... the stylish Maximilian cafe in austro-Hungarian spirit or - if it has arisen ...

Austria lies in the Eastern Alps, which are lower and wider than the Western ones. The border between them coincides with the western border of Austria and runs along the valley of the upper Rhine. The Eastern Alps have fewer glaciers, more forests and meadows than the Western ones. Highest point Austria - Mount Großglockner in Hohe Tauern - does not reach 4 thousand m (3797 m). From the highest peaks flows down the largest glacier of the Eastern Alps - Pasteře - over 10 km long. Other peaks of the ridge granite-gneiss zone of the Ötztal, Stubai, and Zillertal Alps are also covered with snow and ice.

In this crystalline zone, the so-called alpine landforms are most pronounced - sharp ridges, steep-walled valleys plowed out by glaciers.

The main thing that determines the natural features of almost the entire territory is the chain of the Limestone Alps. Although they are below the ridges of the central zone, they are more severe than them. Tower-like massifs with flat tops and bare, almost vertical, even overhanging slopes make a depressing impression. Rain and melt waters easily pass through numerous cracks in limestone, therefore the ridges of this zone are dry, vegetation on them is scarce. Karst landscapes are often found: tarn fields, where in the chaos of limestone stones eaten by water, you do not know where to put your feet, sinkholes, "bottomless" wells, caves ... Of the caves, the ice one is especially widely known - Eisriesenwelt (the world of ice giants) in the Tennengebirge mountains. , south of Salzburg. The names of the mountain ranges themselves speak of the coldness, wildness of these places: Totes-Gebirge (dead mountains), Hellen-Gebirge (hellish mountains), etc.

The limestone Alps to the north pass into the Prealps, which descend in steps to the Danube. These are low, rolling mountains, overgrown with forest; in some places their slopes are plowed up, and wide sunny valleys quite densely populated.

The Eastern Alps, even in their deepest parts, are relatively accessible: the passes are low in many places, and the ridges are separated by wide longitudinal valleys. The Brenner Pass on the border with Italy is located at an altitude of only 1371 m; a railway and a motorway are laid through it without a tunnel. In the east, the Semmering pass is even lower - destroyed by time. The height of this elevation bordering Czechoslovakia is only about 500 m, and only in a few places it reaches 1000 m.

Areas with calm relief, flat or hilly lowlands occupy only about 1/5 of the country's area. This is, first of all, the Danube part of Austria and the adjacent western edge of the Middle Danube plain. The overwhelming majority of the population lives here and is the "center of gravity" of the economic life of the entire country. In this part of Austria, there are vast areas of fertile land, warm and rather humid (700-900 mm of precipitation per year), "grape" climate. This word is everything: a rather warm, long summer with an average July temperature of + 20 ° and a warm sunny autumn. On the plains and in the foothills, relatively mild winters with an average January temperature of -1 -5 °.

The longitudinal valleys of the rivers Inna, Salzach, Ensa, Mura, Drava, along which are laid railways... There are many cities in such valleys, and in some places they are plowed up. But, perhaps, even more interesting among landscapes of this type is the Klagenfurt intermountain basin, along the bottom of which the upper Drava rolls its waters.

If it is appropriate to compare the geologically young Alps with the Caucasus, then the mountains lying on the other, left, side of the Danube, resemble the Urals. These are the southern spurs of Šumava, a part of the ancient Bohemian massif, almost to the bottom of the country a part of the country is "deprived" of heat. With a rise for every 100 m, the temperature drops by 0.5-0.6 °. The snow line is located at an altitude of 2500-2800 m. Summer in high mountains cold, damp, windy, sleet often falls. In winter, there is even more rainfall; on the slopes of the mountains, gigantic layers of snow accumulate, which often for no apparent reason break down and rush down in avalanches, crushing everything in their path. A rare winter goes by without casualties; dwellings, roads, power lines are destroyed ... And sometimes in the middle of winter the snow suddenly disappears. This was the case, for example, in the days of the "White" Olympics in early 1976 in the vicinity of Innsbruck. Usually snow is "driven away" by warm southern winds - hair dryers.

The mountainous part of the country is distinguished by an abundance of clean fresh water. It accumulates in the form of snow and glaciers for most of the year, only to plunge down to the Danube in summer with thousands of roaring streams, filling the lake basins along the way. Alpine rivers also determine the regime of the Danube: it is especially high-water just in summer, when plain rivers are usually shallow. Danube tributaries - Inn, Salzach, Ens, Drava - are fraught with large reserves of energy, but all of them are not navigable and are only partially used for timber rafting.

There are many lakes in the country, especially in northern foothills Alps and in the south, in the Klagenfurt Basin. They are of glacial origin, their hollows are plowed up by ancient glaciers.

In the flat-hilly territories of the country, the vegetation cover has been almost completely changed by man. Once these areas were covered with shady oak and beech forests, from which small groves remain. Now almost all the land is plowed up, there are many gardens, vineyards, parks. Roads are lined with trees, their green chains often separate the property of one owner from the land of another.

In mountain forests, mainly in nature reserves, ungulates live - red deer, chamois, mountain rams, mountain goats, and from birds - wood grouse, black grouse, partridge. On the plains, where almost all the land has been cultivated, large wild animals have long been gone.

Austria is a rather wooded country. Forests cover almost 2/5 of its territory. They survived mainly in the mountains, where the vegetation has been relatively little changed by man. The foothills and lower parts of the mountain slopes are covered with broad-leaved - oak, beech and hornbeam - forests. Above them, they are replaced by coniferous - mainly fir - forests. Mountain forests are one of the national treasures of Austria.

In Austria, the set of minerals is quite diverse, but among them there are very few of those whose importance would go beyond the borders of the country. The exception is magnesite, which is used for the production of refractories and, in part, for the production of metallic magnesium from it. Magnesite occurs in the Styrian, Carinthian and Tyrolean Alps.

There are very few energetic minerals. These are very modest deposits of oil (23 million tons) and natural gas (20 billion cubic meters) in Lower and partly in Upper Austria. Even with the Austrian production scale, these reserves are projected to be depleted within the next one to two decades. The reserves of brown coal are somewhat larger (in Styria, Upper Austria and Burgenland), but it is of poor quality.

Reserves play an important role in the system of nature conservation measures. There are 12 of them in Austria, with a total area of ​​over 0.5 million hectares. They are found in all natural ones. You can find most of the reserves in the Alps.

The environment in most of Austria is not yet under the threat of pollution as in most other industrialized countries.

There is an amazing place on the planet where there are no landfills and nuclear power plants, where water is drunk directly from the tap, and where cyclists feel more confident than drivers. This country is one of the six most environmentally friendly in the world, where construction is carried out only using energy-efficient technologies, and by 2030 they plan to receive all electricity from wind and sun.

Let's open the cards - this is Austria, whose ecology is steadily ahead of the USA, Switzerland, France and a number of others in terms of this indicator. European countries... Here people are "environmentally conscious" from childhood, and the authorities are busy with the global reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the implementation of programs to phase out fossil fuels.

Funny GIF on hydropower: http://www.prikol.ru/wp-content/gallery/december-2016/gif-05122016-007.gif

• Mountain air, banks of rivers and lakes, forests are perfectly clean.
• 93% of the population is satisfied with the quality of the water used.
• Production of environmentally friendly equipment - 4% of GDP (2nd place in the EU).
• Only 15% of the country is arable land, buildings and roads.
• A third of the area - wild nature: mountains, forests, natural meadows and rocky areas.
• 12 nature reserves with a total area of ​​500 thousand hectares, mainly in the Alps.

Five sources of environmental problems in Austria

1. The main threat to the ecology of Austria is the growth of transit of vehicles through the Alps and, as a result, the deterioration of the condition of the mountain valleys.
2. Lack of uniform environmental legislation in the country, conflicts and differences in federal states. Moreover, the interests Agriculture or tourism often prevails over the interests of preserving natural ecosystems.
3. Atlantic air masses carrying pollution from the north-west of Europe, as well as Mediterranean air from the north of Italy. Austria's neighbors are industrialized countries with weak environmental controls.
4. Private land ownership is the main brake on the preservation of the environment, especially the steppes. The Austrian League for Conservation of Nature is acquiring steppe plots and meadows to prevent their conversion to agricultural land.
5. Artificial afforestation of recent decades and, as a result, the loss of a significant part of the steppes.

How is the environment protected in Austria?

Conclusion - Umweltbewusstsein

What is the secret of the Austrians? In environmental awareness (umweltbewusstsein). No one is indifferent to the "health" of nature. Children are taught to sort garbage, and every second grader knows what is produced from each type of recyclable material.

What contribution do you make to the ecology of Austria or another country? Use more often by public transport, save water, use organic cat litter? Or maybe you save Natural resources by screwing in diode bulbs in the house? Leave comments, share your experience and subscribe to our newsletter!

In a small area of ​​Austria, there are 47 natural (Naturparks) and 6 national (Nationalparks) parks. Moreover, this country is very characteristic of the combination of first-class protected areas with a world name www.nationalparks.or.at/, protecting unique natural complexes in the most inaccessible places of the country, with an abundance of small reserves, often more similar to ordinary parks or even zoos, which are usually concentrated in the most popular tourist spots... Thus, a very harmonious combination of serious scientific work on nature conservation with cognitive activity is achieved, and in terms of the ease of accessibility and variety of natural complexes, many territories have no equal in Western Europe.

Hohe Tauern National Park

The national park is considered the visiting card of the country. Hohe Tauern(Hohe Tauern, www.hohetauern.at), located at the junction of Tyrol, Carinthia and Salzburg. Occupying an area of ​​1834 square kilometers, he is largest nature reserve Central Europe and the oldest national park in Austria (founded in 1981). The central part is under his protection. mountain range Hohe Tauern (Hohe Tauern) - the highest ridge in Austria, with its 12 "three-thousanders", among which is the highest peak in the region - Grossglockner (3798 m). Mountain wastelands and meadows, evergreen forests and picturesque valleys, vast ice fields, clean rivers and waterfalls, an abundance of alpine flora and fauna - these are the main attractions of the park. Here you can go mountaineering and mountain tourism, walk along almost seven dozen mountain trails among untouched nature reserve, spend the night in special guest huts or go rafting down the rivers. There is an excursion road in the park, and an extensive staff of qualified instructors and gamekeepers provides high level services.

The park's tourist offices are located in Matrei, Tyrol, Niedernsill, Salzburg and Mallnitz, Carinthia.

Donau-Auen National Park

National park Donau-Auen(Donau-Auen, www.donauauen.at) is located in Lower Austria. Founded on October 27, 1996, it covers an area of ​​93 square kilometers and stretches in a narrow strip along the Danube floodplain between Vienna and the mouth of the Morava. This is the last area of ​​humid forests and wetlands of Central Europe that has survived to this day. More than 5 thousand species of animals and birds are protected here (including more than a hundred species of endangered birds, 8 species of reptiles, 13 species of amphibians and 60 species of fish), more than 800 species of plants, about fifty small lakes with a characteristic ichthyofauna, as well as about three hundred tiny rivers and canals that preserve the intact biosphere of floodplains. And all this is literally an hour's drive from Vienna, so the park is also a wonderful resting place. There are constant excursions (on foot, horseback or by boat) accompanied by guides, there are several ecological posts with special expositions and almost 50 km hiking trails, and also passes the Danube cycling route starting in the German Passau and continuing on the territory of Hungary.

Orth an der Donau.

Tayatal national park

70 km north-west of Vienna begins the territory of the smallest (area 1300 hectares) national park Austria - Tayatal(Thayatal, www.thayatal.com), founded in 1999. The valley of the Thaya River stretches across the northern part of Lower Austria, going into the Czech Republic, where there is another nature reserve - the Podyjí National Park (Podyjí, the river Thaya in Czech is called Dyje, or Dyje). Cutting through ancient weathered rocks, the river is considered one of the most beautiful in Austria, and its valley forms the western border of the so-called Pannonian natural region with a unique semi-steppe vegetation and natural world... Despite the fact that the vicinity of the river is densely populated, the valley itself is little affected by human activity and has preserved an exceptional diversity of flora and fauna - more than 600 plant species and 1300 species of animals and birds. Ecological tours, hiking, horseback riding and boat trips are regularly held here.

The tourist office of the park is located near the town Hardegg(Hardegg).

Gesoise National Park

National park in Styria Gesoise(Gesäuse, www.nationalpark.co.at) is the third largest (125 sq km) and the youngest (2002) in the country. The territory of the park covers picturesque mountain ranges along the valley of the Ens river, the highest of which is Mount Hochtor (2369 m) with beautifully indented slopes by erosion. A large number of rare plants and animals are found in the park, and an abundance of beautiful places and the famous Benedictine monastery of Admont attract a large number of tourists.

The tourist office of the park is located in the town Weng(Weng).

Nockberge National Park

National park Nockberge(Nockberge, www.nationalparknockberge.at) in Carinthia covers a large area of ​​medium-high (1300-2440 m) mountains of the same name, which have been inhabited since ancient times. Founded in 1987, it covers an area of ​​approximately 184 sq. km. The most picturesque slopes of the Nok Mountains with their magnificent herbs, alpine meadows and pastures, clean rivers, as well as forests on the outskirts are protected here. The park is home to many animals (about 600 species, including birds), including rare and endangered species, more than 1300 plant species grow, and its colorful landscapes have long been replicated on thousands of postcards and posters. A 35-kilometer Nokalmstrasse serpentine has been laid through the park, introducing guests to pristine nature and wonderful landscapes. Also, there are about 70 km of hiking trails and ecological routes.

The tourist office of the park is located in the town Ebene-Reichenau(Ebene Reichenau).

Kalkalpen National Park

National park Kalkalpen(Kalkalpen, www.kalkalpen.at) is located in the very south of Upper Austria. Founded in 1997, it covers an area of ​​21 thousand hectares, covering the slopes of the picturesque Sengsengebirge mountain range and the two largest protected forests in Austria - Reichraminger Hintergebirge and Sengsengebirge (80% of the park's territory). Here you can see all the diversity of flora and fauna of the Alps - the protected area stretches from the foothills to the very peaks, there are 30 species of forest ecocenoses alone. In addition, there are a lot of springs (more than 800!) And rivers, which in many places eroded rocks to form karst caves.

The park is home to many animals, including rare and endangered species, including more than a hundred species of birds, 1600 species of butterflies (almost all species found in Austria), as well as more than 850 species of plants (102 of them are endangered, a 59 is included in the Austrian federal list protection of nature). Here, active work is being carried out to restore natural complexes (local biologists have almost completely restored the population of the rarest mountain lynx and brown bear) and at the same time they breed traditional domestic animals such as Norik horses and Murbodener cows. Tourists are not forgotten either - from April to October organized hikes with the reserve's rangers, descents into caves, horseback riding and boat trips are held, and in winter you can go the same routes on skis or snowshoes, which makes the park popular place active rest.

The park's tourist offices are located in townships Windischgarsten(Windischgarsten) and Moln(Molln).

National Park Neusiedler See

National park Neusiedler See - Seewinkel lies in the very east of Burgenland, around Lake Neusiedler See (Neusiedler See, Ferto). This is the only steppe reserve in Central Europe and the only salt Lake the region, surrounded on all sides by thickets of reeds, salt ponds and marshes, attracting the attention of thousands and thousands of birds, both local and migratory. Therefore, the lake and its surroundings are included in the List of the World cultural heritage UNESCO and are protected by two reserves at once - the national park Neusiedler-See - Seewinkel (created in 1993, an area of ​​35 thousand hectares) on the Austrian side and Fertö-Hanshag on the Hungarian side. During the migration period, several million birds are recorded here, which can be viewed from specially equipped sites, and freshwater fish, quite familiar to us, are found in the salty waters of the lake, which is a kind of biological phenomenon.

An ecological path has been laid along the coast (total length is about 100 km), along which you can ride a bicycle, horse or horse-drawn carriage and see the most scenic spots coastlines and nature reserves, and boat excursions are organized in wetlands.

The tourist office of the park is located in the town Ilmitz(Illmitz).