Page 28 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - Austria

26  INTRODUCING A USTRIA

The Landscape of Austria
The Alpine belt stretches from the
Austria has a highly diverse landscape because of its zone of the mountain pine up to
the ice and snow fields. At altitudes
location at the junction of four regions. The north of the of 2,500–3,200 m (8,200–10,500 ft),
country is part of the Central European natural region, snow is present all year (this snow-
line is called the “nival belt”).
originally dominated by deciduous and mixed forests,
while the southern part belongs to the Alpine region.
The southeast lies in the Illyrian region, which benefits The transition zone
from a Mediterranean climate, resulting in a rich flora and between forests and Alpine
grassland is covered in
fauna including edible chestnuts and rare species of lizards scrub (dwarf mountain pine,
and snakes. The northeastern part of the country belongs rhododendron and alder).
to the Pontian-Pannonian region, with surviving species Here, the growing season
lasts only 70–100 days.
of steppe flora and characteristic fauna including the
suslik (a ground squirrel), hamster and great bustard.

Alpine high mountain grasslands and low meadows
include a wide variety of species and plant communities.
Mountain arnica (in the foreground) avoids limestone
soils; it is a highly regarded medicinal plant.

In gulleys and hollows,
in valleys and along the
banks of the streams,
Austrian flora is at its Traditional grazing in the
most magnificent. forest belt has preserved
the natural fauna and flora
of the Alpine meadows
and pastures.
Mountainscapes
Climate and flora change with
altitude, as is typical of mountain
environments. The lower regions
are covered with mixed forests
(including beech). The upper parts
have coniferous trees (Arolla pine,
spruce and larch) up to about
1,800 m (5,900 ft) – above which
are brush thickets and colourful
Alpine meadows.

Humid, cool valleys are the perfect
habitat to encourage the growth of
herbaceous plants.

026-027_EW_Austria.indd 26 03/09/15 5:40 pm