Austria is the landlocked country whose capital is Vienna and whose territory is crossed by the Danube River.
The Danube enters Austria from Germany, flows eastward through Linz and Vienna, and then continues into Slovakia. It is one of Europe’s longest rivers and a major transport and cultural corridor. Vienna developed on its banks and remains Austria’s political and largest urban centre.
Austria is a federal republic in Central Europe. It borders Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Its Alpine landscape is another defining feature, with much of the country covered by mountain ranges.
Austria is sometimes confused with Australia because of their similar English names, but Australia is a continent-country surrounded by ocean while Austria is a landlocked European state. Austria became a republic after the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918.