Austria Essay Research Paper AustriaHistoryThousands of years — страница 3

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Neusiedler Lake, southeast of Vienna on the border between Austria and Hungary, covers an area of about 130 square miles. The scenery and climate in Austria are much like those of Switzerland. Austria has warm summers, cold winters, and plenty of rain. Austria has deposits of salt, lead, talc, graphite, natural gas, and gypsum. It is the world?s largest producer of magnesite, and the fourth largest producer of crude oil in Europe. Iron ore comes from deposits in the province of Styria. Austria?s coal deposits are almost entirely lignite. This type of coal is not suitable for gas or coke production. Austria Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Millions of Metric Tons) Fuel 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 Coal 3.097 2.755 3.019 3.339 3.337 Natural Gas 3.734 3.709 4.010 4.308 4.184 Petroleum 9.010

9.096 8.825 8.818 9.250 Total 15.841 15.560 15.854 16.465 16.771 % Change – -1.8% 1.9% 3.9% 1.9% Slightly smaller than Maine, Austria includes much of the mountainous territory of the eastern Alps (about 75% of the area). The country contains many snowfields, glaciers, and snowcapped peaks, the highest being the Grossglockner (12,530 ft.; 3,819 m). The Danube is the principal river. Forests and woodlands cover about 39% of the land. Austria has only 1% permanent crops, and 23% permanent pastures. As mentioned before, forests cover 39 percent of the land, and scientific management once produced much timber. But, during World War II, the Germans cut down so many trees that timber production was greatly reduced. Austria?s forests are an important source of ships? supplies such as

tar, pitch, turpentine, and gum resin. There has been some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe. Austria is one of the most important sources of hydroelectric power in Europe. Its total electric power production, from all sources, amounts to more than 18,440,000,000 kilowatt-hours a year. Austria?s climate is temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain in lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional showers Economy Austria has a well-developed market economy with a high standard of living. As a member

of the European Monetary Union (EMU), Austria?s economy is closely integrated with other EU member countries, especially with Germany. Austria?s membership in the EU has drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted by Austria?s access to the single European market. Through privatization efforts, the 1996-98 budget consolidation programs, and austerity measures, Austria brought its total public sector deficit down to 2.5% of GDP required by the EU?s Maastricht criteria. Cuts mainly affect the civil service and Austria?s generous social system, the two major causes of the government deficit. To meet increased competition from both EU and Central European countries, Austria will need to emphasize knowledge-based sectors of the economy and deregulate the service sector,

particularly telecommunications and energy. Agriculture. The agriculture sector in Austria contributes 3.0% of the GDP and employs an estimated 0.7% of labor, as stated in the GDP/Employment by Sector of Origin table. The key primary food crops produced are barley, maize, potatoes, soybeans, sugar beets and wheat. The primary meat products are pork, beef, chicken, turkey and lamb. The largest (in value terms) agricultural exports in 1998 were non-alcoholic beverages, chocolate products, beef, pastry and prepared fruit. The total value of agricultural imports in 1998 was $4,560.8 million. Austria Key Sectors Agriculture/Food: Production of Primary Crops (Metric Tons) Product 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 BARLEY 1,184,350 1,065,188 1,082,800 1,257,800 1,211,600 MAIZE 1,420,640 1,473,662

1,735,568 1,841,681 1,573,000 POTATOES 593,720 724,426 768,873 676,872 663,000 SOYBEANS 104,946 31,121 26,763 33,000 43,400 SUGAR BEETS 2,560,580 2,885,807 3,131,307 3,011,921 2,930,000 WHEAT 1,255,120 1,301,310 1,239,723 1,352,281 1,341,800 TOTAL PRODUCTION 7,119,356 7,481,514 7,985,034 8,173,555 7,762,800 GROWTH RATE (%) – 5.1% 6.7% 2.4% -5.0% Austria Macroeconomic Activity Real GDP Per Capita 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Real GDP (Millions of 1990$US) 137,379 139,701 142,467 146,057 150,804 Total Population (Millions-Mid Year Average) 8.060 8.100 8.130 8.130 8.130 Real GDP Per Capita (1990$US Per Capita) 17,046 17,244 17,531 17,960 18,541 Global Ranking Gross Domestic Product (Millions of 1990$) Population (Millions) GDP Per Capita (1990$) Country Rank 1997 GDP Rank 1997