Lower Austria

Lower Austria (German: Niederösterreich pronounced ^ⓘ, Bavarian: Niedaöstareich, abbreviated LA or NÖ) is one of the nine states of Austria. It is found in the northeastern part of the country. The capital of Lower Austria is Sankt Pölten, a title it has held since 1986. Before that, Vienna was the capital, but it became its own state in 1921.

Lower Austria is the largest state in Austria by land area, covering 19,186 km² (7,408 sq mi). It is also the second-most-populous state, home to about 1.7 million people. Some of its major cities include Amstetten, Krems an der Donau, Wiener Neustadt, and Sankt Pölten. The state's rich history and beautiful landscapes make it an important part of Austria.

Geography

Lower Austria is the largest state in Austria, covering an area of 19,186 km² (7,408 sq mi). It lies east of Upper Austria and gets its name from its position along the river Enns, which flows from west to east. The state shares a long border of 414 km (257 mi) with the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and it also touches the Austrian states of Upper Austria, Styria, Burgenland, and surrounds Vienna.

Lower Austria is divided into four regions: Mostviertel, Industrieviertel, Weinviertel, and Waldviertel. Each region has its own landscape. The Mostviertel features foothills of the Limestone Alps with tall mountains, while Waldviertel is mainly a flat granite area. Weinviertel is hilly and slopes down to flat lands in the east.

Lower Austria has many notable mountains, including Schneeberg, Rax, and Ötscher. The rivers and lakes in the area add to its natural beauty. The Danube river flows through most of the state, while other rivers such as the Enns and Ybbs also run through it. There are also several lakes, like the Ottenstein Reservoir and Lunzer See.

Most of Lower Austria’s water comes from the Danube. One river, the Lainsitz, flows north into the North Sea through the Moldau and the Elbe. Important rivers on the north side of the Danube include the Ysper, Kamp, Krems, and Lainsitz. On the south side, rivers like the Enns, Ybbs, and Schwechat are key.

Lower Austria has many natural caves, with over 4,000 recorded. These caves are mostly made in limestone and dolomite rocks. Some of the biggest caves include the Ötscherhöhlensystem, Pfannloch, and Lechnerweidhöhle. A few caves, such as Hermannshöhle and Eisensteinhöhle, are open for visitors to explore.

History

Main article: History of Austria

The history of Lower Austria is closely tied to the wider history of Austria. Many castles can be found in this area. Klosterneuburg Abbey, located here, is one of the oldest abbeys in the country.

The names Lower Austria and Upper Austria come from older names that refer to the river Enns. This river flows from the Central Eastern Alps and helps separate the two areas.

Important events took place here, such as the Battle on the Marchfeld in 1278, which helped the House of Habsburg gain power. Later, during battles involving Napoleon, significant fights occurred near Wagram and Aspern in 1809.

Economy

The gross domestic product of Lower Austria was 61.0 billion € in 2018. This made up 15.8% of all of Austria's economy.

When we adjust for how much things cost to buy, the average person in Lower Austria earned about 32,300 €. This is a bit less than the average for all of Europe, but it is still a good amount. Lower Austria has the second-lowest average earnings in Austria.

Transport

You can reach Lower Austria by plane using Vienna Airport. From there, you can take a train operated by Railjet or drive by road to get around. In some western parts of Lower Austria, like Waidhofen an der Ybbs and Enns, people sometimes use Linz Airport because it is nearby.

Demographics

Administrative divisions

Lower Austria is divided into four regions: Waldviertel, Mostviertel, Industrieviertel, and Weinviertel. The Wachau valley, located between Melk and Krems in the Mostviertel region, is well-known for its beautiful scenery, culture, and wine.

The state is organized into 20 districts (Bezirke) and four independent towns (Statutarstädte). Altogether, there are 573 municipalities in Lower Austria.

Independent towns

• Krems an der Donau
• Sankt Pölten
• Waidhofen
• Wiener Neustadt

Districts

• Amstetten
• Baden
• Bruck an der Leitha
• Gänserndorf
• Gmünd
• Hollabrunn
• Horn
• Korneuburg
• Krems
• Lilienfeld
• Melk
• Mistelbach
• Mödling
• Neunkirchen
• St. Pölten
• Scheibbs
• Tulln an der Donau
• Waidhofen an der Thaya
• Wiener Neustadt
• Zwettl