1. Austria derives from a Germanic word ‘austro’, meaning ‘east’.
2. Austria became independent on October 26, 1955.
3. Austria has some of the highest standards of living in the world.
4. Austria joined the European Union in 1995, and the Euro currency in 1999.
5. Austria was occupied by many Celtic tribes in pre-Roman times.
6. Austria is also the country where first postcards were issued.
7. Austria extends 360 miles from east to west.
8. Acid rain is an issue in Austria.
9. Arnold Schwarzenegger was born and raised in Austria before moving to America to become a Hollywood actor.
10. The country meets over 60% of its electricity needs by means of renewable energy sources.
11. Neusiedler See is the lowest point in Austria at 115m above sea level.
12. Austria has sworn itself to a neutral position since the World Wars.
13. Austria is the only European Union nation that is not a member of NATO.
14. In Austria, Vienna has the oldest zoo in the world, founded in 1752.
15. Austria is known for its mountain railways and trains such as the Giselabahn.
16. The sewing machine was invented by Josef Madersperger, an Austrian.
17. Death in Austria is big business, and the Austrian funeral industry is said to be largest per capita in Europe.
18. The magic words for wine drinkers in Vienna are in Achtel, which is the most common serving size in Vienna.
19. Viennese psychiatrist Sigmund Freud is best known as the founding father of psychoanalysis.
20. The design of the first sewing machine dates back to 18th-century English tailor Thomas Saint.
21. Austrian artist Egon Schiele was controversial in his own time.
22. Alpine, or downhill, skiing has been the most popular sport in Austria for over 100 years.
23. Andreas Hofer is considered Austria’s national hero.
24. Austria shares its longest border with Germany.
25. The biggest Danube port in Austria is in Vienna and Linz.
26. The country shares its longest border with Germany which is approximately 800 kilometers long.
27. Austrian corn yields on average are higher than in the United States of America.
28. Born in Germany in 1770, Ludwig van Beethoven lived most of his adult life in Vienna, Austria.
29. Vienna, Austria, is home to the world-famous Spanish Riding School and its prized white Lipizzaner stallions.
30. French Queen Marie Antoinette was one of the 16 children of Empress Maria Theresa.
31. Austrian author Elfriede Jelinek won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2004.
32. Austria’s highest point is the Großglockner at 12,461 feet (3,798 m).
33. Austria’s flag is one of, if not the, oldest national banners in the world.
34. Mozart was Austrian though. So were Haydn, Schubert, and Strauss. Austria is famous for music.
35. Beethoven was not Austrian, he was German. But he did live a significant portion of life in Austria.
36. In 1552 a Hapsburg prince brought an elephant from Spain back to Vienna but it died in the cold climate shortly thereafter.
37. Kugelmugel still stands as a tourist attraction.
38. The Danube River which is 2,860 km long is the chief waterway of the country.
39. Austria and Switzerland are called the winter sports capital of Europe.
40. Most of Austria is mountainous and covered by the Alps and about 1/4 of the population lives in Vienna, the capital.
41. Among its mountains is the Großglockner, Europe's second most prominent mountain (3,798m, with a prominence of 2,423m).
42. The Krimml Falls (Krimmler Wasserfalle) are Europe's tallest waterfall (380 meters).
43. In spite of the mishap with the elephant, Vienna is home to the world's oldest zoo, the Tiergarten Schönbrunn.
44. Soccer is a popular team sport in Austria, the national team came 4th in the 1934 World Cup Finals and 3rd in 1954.
45. Austria is bordered by 8 countries, Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Hungary and Slovakia to the east.
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