| Official Name: | Lower Austria |
| Native Name: | Niederösterreich |
| Settlement Type: | State |
| Flag Size: | 120px |
| Anthem: | Niederösterreiche Landeshymne |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Seat Type: | Capital |
| Seat: | Sankt Pölten |
| Governing Body: | Landtag of Lower Austria |
| Leader Party: | ÖVP |
| Leader Title: | Governor |
| Leader Name: | Johanna Mikl-Leitner[1] |
| Leader Title1: | Deputy Governor |
| Leader Name1: | Udo Landbauer (FPÖ) |
| Area Total Km2: | 18901.2 |
| Population Total: | 1698796 |
| Population As Of: | 1 January 2022 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | GDP |
| Demographics1 Footnotes: | [2] |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Total |
| Demographics1 Info1: | €65.035 billion (2021) |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Per capita |
| Demographics1 Info2: | €38,400 (2021) |
| Timezone1: | CET |
| Utc Offset1: | +1 |
| Timezone1 Dst: | CEST |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | +2 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | HDI (2019) |
| Blank Info Sec1: | 0.887[3] · 8th of 9 |
| Blank1 Name Sec2: | Votes in Bundesrat |
| Blank1 Info Sec2: | 12 (of 62) |
| Blank Name Sec2: | NUTS Region |
| Blank Info Sec2: | AT1 |
| Iso Code: | AT-3 |
Lower Austria (German: Niederösterreich pronounced as /de/ abbreviation LA or German: NÖ; Austro-Bavarian: Niedaöstareich, Slovak: Dolné Rakúsko, Dolní Rakousy) is one of the nine states of Austria, located in the northeastern corner of the country. Since 1986, the capital of Lower Austria has been Sankt Pölten, replacing Vienna, which became a separate state in 1921. With a land area of 19186km2 and a population of 1.685 million people, Lower Austria is the second-most-populous state in Austria (after Vienna). Other large cities are Amstetten, Klosterneuburg, Krems an der Donau, Stockerau and Wiener Neustadt.[4]
With a land area of 19186km2 situated east of Upper Austria, Lower Austria is the country's largest state. Lower Austria derives its name from its downriver location on the Enns River, which flows from the west to the east. Lower Austria has an international border, 414km (257miles) long, with the Czech Republic (South Bohemia and South Moravia Regions) and Slovakia (Bratislava and Trnava Regions). The state has the second-longest external border of all Austrian states. It also borders the other Austrian states of Upper Austria, Styria and Burgenland as well as surrounding Vienna.
Lower Austria is divided into four regions, known as Viertel (quarters):
These regions have different geographical structures. Whilst the Mostviertel is dominated by the foothills of the Limestone Alps with mountains up to (6,500 ft) high, most of the Waldviertel is a granite plateau. The hilly Weinviertel lies to the northeast, descends to the plains of Marchfeld in the east of the state, and is separated by the Danube from the Vienna Basin to the south, which in turn is separated from the Vienna Woods by a line of thermal springs (the Thermenlinie) running north to south.[5]
Other mountains in Lower Austria may be found at .
The state border with Styria runs over both passes.
Almost all of Lower Austria is drained by the Danube. The only river that flows into the North Sea (via the Moldau and the Elbe) is the Lainsitz in northern Waldviertel, the Erlauf river.
The most important rivers north of the Danube (on its left bank) are the Ysper, Kamp, Krems, Lainsitz, March and Thaya. South of the Danube (on its right bank) are the Enns, Ybbs, Erlauf, Melk, Pielach, Traisen, Schwechat, Fischa, Schwarza, Triesting, Pitten and the Leitha.
Lower Austria is rich in natural caves; in all 4,082 have been recorded. Most of the caves have formed in limestone and dolomite rocks and are therefore called karst caves. Cavities also form in the marble of the Central Alps and the Bohemian Massif. Among the largest caves in Lower Austria are:
The last two are open as show caves, along with the Allander stalactite cave, the Unicorn Cave, the Hochkarschacht, the Nixhöhle and the Ötschertropfsteinhöhle.
| Type of land use | Area in km | Percent of total area | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farmland | 7,000 | 42 | |
| Woods | 6,711 | 40 | |
| Grassland | 1,750 | 11 | |
| Alpine pastures | 300 | 1.7 | |
| Vineyards | 315 | 1.9 |
See main article: History of Austria. More than 200 Neolithic people were killed during the massacre in the Linear Pottery settlement area of Schletz 7000 years ago.[6]
The history of Lower Austria is very similar to the history of Austria. Many castles are located in Lower Austria. Klosterneuburg Abbey, located here, is one of the oldest abbeys in Austria. Before World War II, Lower Austria had the largest number of Jews in the country.
The names Lower Austria and Upper Austria are derived from the earlier names Austria below the Enns and Austria above the Enns, references to the river Enns. Going down from its source on the northern edge of the Central Eastern Alps, the river crosses Upper Austria, then on its lower reaches forms the boundary between Upper Austria and Lower Austria.[7]
In the mid-13th century, it became known as the Principality below the Enns River (German: Fürstentum unter der Enns).
The Battle on the Marchfeld on 26 August 1278 marked the beginning of the ascendancy of the House of Habsburg in Austria and Central Europe.
During the Ottoman wars in Europe, Lower Austria was the target of repeated raids by the Tatars and Ottoman Akinji mounted paramilitary units, with many people taken into slavery.[8]
Lower Austria was the site of the Battles of Wagram and Aspern, fought between invading French troops under Napoleon and an Austrian army led by Archduke Charles in 1809.
The gross domestic product (GDP) of the state was €61.0 billion in 2018, accounting for 15.8% of Austria's economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was €32,300, or 107% of the EU27 average in the same year. Lower Austria is the state with the second-lowest GDP per capita in Austria.[9]
Lower Austria is divided into four regions: Waldviertel, Mostviertel, Industrieviertel, and Weinviertel. The Wachau valley, situated between Melk and Krems in the Mostviertel region, is famous for its landscape, culture, and wine.
Administratively, the state is divided into 20 districts (Bezirke), and four independent towns (Statutarstädte). In total, there are 573 municipalities within Lower Austria.[10]