Austria

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Austria

The Republic of Austria, a landlocked country in the Eastern Alps of Central Europe. It is a federation of nine states, one of which, with Vienna as its capital, is the most populous city and state. Austria is one of the most forested countries in Europe. Around 47% of its territory is covered by forest. The lower parts of the Alps are covered with deciduous forests such as oak and beech. Above this, up to the forest boundary at 1900-2000 m, there are coniferous forests, replaced by dwarf pine forests. In many places, the forests have been reduced and replaced by secondary pastures. The coniferous grasslands break up at 2500 m, and the characteristic subnivale cushion vegetation follows. At 3000 meter, lichens and cushion mosses dominate. In the basins and valleys, the original deciduous forests have been replaced by agricultural land. In the lowlands, too, forests have been reduced by agricultural cultivation. Around Lake Neusiedl there is steppe vegetation and large reed beds on the lake. Mostly Central European fauna is typical of the country: deer, wild boar, rabbit, pheasant, partridge, fox, badger, marten and squirrel. The Alps are mainly inhabited by zergs, marmots and ibex. It also has an important bird population, especially around Lake Neusiedl. Three of Austria's six national parks protect the Austrian Alps and three cover wetlands. The largest park by far is the High Tauern, the largest national park in Central Europe, it was established in 1981. These national parks cover Austria's most important natural landscapes: alluvial forest, Alpine massif, Pannonian steppe and rocky valleys.