die sterreichische Film Commission

Due to its location in Central Europe, Austria is an important crossroads among the major European economic and cultural regions.

In the West, almost two thirds of the country is covered by high- and medium Alpine mountain regions with spectacular mountain ranges and majestic glaciers. Almost one half of the mountains are covered by forest.

The most important populated areas and economic regions are the foothills of the Alps and the Carpathian mountains, the Vienna basin and the Austrian sections of the Carpathian plains in the East. These areas feature green hills and plains, fields, wine regions, idyllic rivers and lakes as well as wide open steppe.

The Grossglockner (3,797m / 12,454 ft.) is Austria’s highest mountain, the Danube the largest river with 350 kilometers (217 miles) that run through Austria.

Austria has more forested regions than any other European country (46% of the total area). Higher mountain regions lie in the Alpine climate zone. Toward the East, annual precipitation declines and the difference between summer and winter temperatures increases. These different climate zones promote an abundance of flora and fauna.

Austria lies approximately on the same latitude as the US states of Maine or Washington. A moderate climate prevails throughout the four seasons. Typically, there are cold winters and warm summers with moderate precipitation. In July and August temperatures climb up to 30 degrees Celsius (86 F) but the nights stay cool. Precipitation is evenly spread throughout the year. May, September and the first half of October are considered to be the driest months, April and November the wettest. Brief but heavy showers are common between June and August. Frost and snow all the way down into the valleys can be expected between December and March. From November to May, the snow line is at around 2,000m (6,560 ft.). Starting at about 2,800m (9,184 ft.) snow will stay year-round.

Temperature and Precipitation Chart
Flora and Fauna in Austria