Interesting facts

1.     The Austrian Alps cover 62% of the country’s total land area.

2.     Austria is home to Europe’s tallest Waterfalls – the Krimml Waterfalls. They reach a height of 380 meters.

3.     The largest ice cave in the world can be found in Werfen. It extends for almost 42 kilometers.

4.     Austria is one of the world’s eco-friendly countries – about 63% of waste is recycled and most of the electricity comes through the use of renewable energy sources.

5.     In the 19^th century, Austria was one of the most powerful countries in the world. Back then, the total area was almost 700,000 square kilometers.

6.     Postcards were first published in Austria.

7.     The country became a member of the European Union in 1995.

8.     The Austrian flag dates from 1191, which makes it one of the oldest national flags in the world.

9.     Freedom of the religion is important in Austria and every child over the age of 14 can decide the religion on their own.

10.Austria is among the six EU countries that are not members of NATO.

11.Austrian Bertha von Suttner was the first woman ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1905.

12.In Austria, it’s considered bad luck if you share a toast and don’t keep eye contact with the other person.

13.The Austrian National Library in Vienna is home to more than 2 million books and one of the world’s major libraries.