SALZBURG - Geography and history
The Bundesland of Salzburg, which finally passed to Austria in 1816, has an area of 7 154 km2, the chartered city and capital, Salzburg, 5 political districts and a total of 119 municipalities (2001 figures). It has international borders with Germany and Italy and is also bounded by the Bundesländer of Oberösterreich, Steiermark, Kärnten and Tirol.
Although the flatter area in the north, the Flachgau, can be assigned to the Alpine foothills, most of Salzburg lies within the Alps proper. To the south of a sandstone zone are the northern Limestone Alps, which consist of the lower Alpine foothills and high limestone massifs. These are separated from the Pre-Cambrian Central Alps further south, where the Großvenediger rises to 3 674 m, by the gentler Schieferalpen (Shale Alps), which have been opened up for skiing, and the Salzach Valley which occupies the northern longitudinal valley gap. The climate is Alpine. Nearly 17.8 % of the land area is given over to agriculture and horticulture, 25.6% is mountain pastures and 39.7 % wooded.
This mecca for tourists, with a thriving economy based on its capital, is crossed from north to south by major European rail and road links, which intersect in the city of Salzburg with east-west routes. Main trunk routes follow the longitudinal valley corridor.
A major tourist area with cultural attractions and many local advantages
The beauty of the landscape, be it in the Salzkammergut, the Alpine valleys or the mountain ranges, together with its numerous recreational facilities, make Salzburg the country's second most important tourist region after Tirol (4.75 million arrivals and almost 22 million overnight stays in 2002). Tourism is an important industry in both summer and winter. The city of Salzburg and its surrounding area derive many advantages from their situation in the centre of Austria, proximity to Germany and development at the junction of major international traffic routes. Many firms (e.g. in the motor trade) have their headquarters there.
Particularly noteworthy are the world-famous Easter and Summer Festivals in the capital, whose architecture is reminiscent of southern Europe.
The downside of this flourishing region with its above-average economic growth is the shortage of housing which pushes up housing costs.
Further problems arise from the north-south transit traffic when, during holiday periods, long traffic jams pollute the valleys with exhaust fumes and noise.
Salzburg conurbation and mountain holiday resorts
The three Salzburg NUTS 3 regions, which together have a substantial per capita GDP of 131% of the EU average and a population density of 72 per km2, are very varied in structure.
The thinly populated Lungau (20.8 inhabitants per km2) is a region of high mountains with livestock farming based on grassland and mountain pastures, forestry, small commercial businesses and a large tourist sector. Per capita GDP is 102% of the EU average. The Pinzgau-Pongau region is also mountainous, with a small amount of industry, major hydroelectric power stations, commercial businesses (mostly on a small scale), forestry and livestock farming on grassland and mountain pastures. The tourist trade is important both summer and winter. Per capita GDP is 113% of the EU average.
The nucleus in terms of population, economic activity and cultural resources is the city of Salzburg and its hinterland, where almost two thirds of the population live on just under 25% of the land area. In this city, with its concentration on the services sector, many firms have their head offices and large numbers of people commute in from the surrounding area and from other Bundesländer. There are many kinds of industry, and tourism is a major income-earner in and around the city. Per capita GDP in this flourishing region is 41% above the EU average.
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