TIROL - Geography and history
Tirol has existed as a territorial unit since the 13th century. It has an area of 12 648 km2, one chartered city - its capital, Innsbruck - 8 political districts and 279 municipalities (2001). It has international borders with Italy, Switzerland and Germany and is also bounded by the Bundesländer of Salzburg, Kärnten and Vorarlberg.
Although it has a substantial industrial sector, Tirol, with its Alpine scenery, is a noted tourist area. South of the northern Limestone Alps, there are the Pre-Cambrian Central Alps to the west of the Brenner Gap and a less rugged area of slate hills to the east. The generally broad sweep of the Inn valley, part of the northern longitudinal valley gap, cuts through Tirol. Most of Osttirol lies in the Central Alps, which culminate in the Großglockner, at 3 797 m Austria's highest mountain. South of the Drau (Drava) valley, it forms part of the southern Limestone Alps. The region has an Alpine climate. Only 10.7 % of the land area is used for agriculture or horticulture but 26.9 % is mountain pasture and 36.8% wooded. Tirol's Alpine character means that only 12.2 % of its total area is available for permanent settlements.
Rail and road links through the lower Inn valley and over the Brenner Pass form one of the most important north-south traffic routes in Europe.
A tourist area with through-traffic problems and a shortage of land for permanent settlements
With its scenic beauty and ease of access from the main population centres of the European Union, the mountainous Bundesland of Tirol is one of the most important tourist areas not only of Austria but in the whole of Europe. In 2002 , there were 8 million arrivals and 41,6 million overnight stays,. Tirol also has a substantial industrial base, concentrating on metal-producing and metalworking (special metals and motor vehicles), optics, glass and biochemicals.
Some of Tirol's most serious problems, however, are caused by the through traffic between Germany and Italy. Exhaust gases cannot escape as easily from the valleys as they can from open country, and noise is reflected. The only solution is to reduce the volume of goods traffic and extend rail links so that they can compete effectively with road transport.
The situation is made worse by the fact that the Inn valley between Innsbruck and Kufstein is the most heavily built-up area of Tirol, and that while the land used for permanent habitation (covered by buildings, roads and railways, horticulture and agriculture, but excluding mountain pastures) is only 1 543 km2, it housed a population of 673 504 at the census from 15 May 2001. A further problem in many areas is the high percentage of second homes owned by foreigners.
Population and industry converge on Innsbruck and the lower Inn valley
More than two thirds (70%) of the working population of Tirol is employed in the service sector and just one quarter in the secondary sector. There is little unemployment and GDP per capita, at 113% of the EU average in 2000, is close to the national figure.
Almost 73,7 % of the population live in the Innsbruck area and the lowlands, especially in the valleys of the Inn and the Ziller and around Kitzbühel, and as a result the lower Inn valley, with its varied industrial activity, is very densely populated. The main tourist centres are Innsbruck and its surrounding area, the Zillertal, Kitzbühel, the Achensee area and Seefeld. Per capita GDP is 120% of the EU average in and around Innsbruck, and 113% in the lowlands.
The rural Tirol uplands, where per capita GDP is 105% of the EU average, has a flourishing tourist trade (Ötztal and Arlberg), as has the Außerfern (valley of the Lech) where the GDP per capita is 103% of the EU average. Eastern Tirol, which is cut off from the West and where the traditional agricultural landscape has been best preserved, has a few tourist resorts. Per capita GDP, at 94% of the EU average, is on the low side.
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