In essence, Austria has three main geographical areas.
The
Lowlands of the east and southeast are the country's agriculture center. A sliver of lowland also fronts the Lake Constance area on its border with
Switzerland.
In the
Hill Country, north of the Danube River, the land rises into forested hills and lower mountains up to its border with the
Czech Republic.
Most of Austria (70%), is covered by the
Alpine Region, central and west, as the Alps extend on into Austria from Switzerland.
In this region several branches, spurs and forested, snow-capped ranges of the Alps dominate. The major ones include the Bavarian, Carnic and Otztaler ranges.
The highest peaks are in the central Tauern Range. , the country's highest point, at 12,460 ft. (3,798 m), is located there.
The Tauern Range eventually slopes into the Danube River Valley, and into the eastern lowlands, from Vienna, south to its border with
Slovenia.
The Danube (1,771 miles) (2,850 km), is the most significant river in the country. It's the second longest river in Europe, and a vital waterway for commerce. Additional rivers of size include the Drau, Enns, Inn, Mur, Raab and Traun.
Dozens and dozens of lakes run amidst the mountain ranges, especially in the south and to the immediate east of Salzburg. The largest in the county is Lake Neusiedler.
