A Superpower of the Old World
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was a giant, a superpower of the Old World, but then two World Wars got in the way. Eventually the Republic of Austria was granted independence from the German Empire and the Third Reich, but it was no longer the self-sufficient kingdom it once used to be. Now a landlocked country of Central Europe, Austria is one of the world’s richest countries; it has done well to get up on its feet once again.
Now facts about Austria refer to the set of facts about the Republic of Austra, a country in Central Europe. Right now there are literally hundreds of websites on the Internet containing such information, many of which are available for free. These are useful for academic studies, for blogging or note keeping, or simply for personal enjoyment.
Something to Know about Austria
Osterreich is German for Austria, which literally means “Eastern Empire”. This was during the time when Austria was still a member of the Holy Roman Empire.
The highest peak in Austria is the Grossglockner, meaning the Great Bell.
One of Europe’s largest glaciers, the Pasterze Glacier, can be found in the Austrian Alps.
The largest natural lake in Austria is Lake Neusiedler.
In 1991, a mummified corpse from the Stone Age was discovered in the Otztal Alps between Italy and Austria. Tattoos, originally speculated to have been used by the early civilizations for medical purposes, were found all over the body.
Salt was being mined at Hallstatt and Salzburg from as early as the Iron Age.
The Austrian Empire of the 16th century included Austria, Spanish American colonies, Spain, the Netherlands, Hungary, Czecho-slovakia, Belgium, and parts of Italy.
Austria is the birthplace of a number of famous composers, including Strauss and Mozart. .