Geomorphological Landscape Regions of Austria

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the landscapes of Austria and a general background for the individual regional chapters of Part 2 of the book. The three major landscape units of Austria are the Eastern Alps, comprising about 63% of the territory, the Alpine forelands in the north and southeast of the mountain belt (27%), and the highlands of the Bohemian Massif in the north (10%). For the designation of smaller-scale regions, the geology of these three structural units with specific attention to lithology is discussed. Based on maps of elevation, relative relief and slope inclination, four relief types are defined. The combination of geology and relief types results in ten geomorphological landscape regions. These units are finally portrayed, complemented by brief descriptions of climate and land use. The main focus of these descriptive accounts are the Quaternary and contemporary geomorphological processes and characteristic landform assemblages with references to the chapters of part 2 in which they are covered in detail.