We are visiting Austria, a stunning country located right in the heart of the Alps in Central Europe. There are around 9 million people living here, and the capital is Vienna, a city famous for its grand palaces and musical history. The official language is German, and you will often hear it spoken with a charming local lilt.

Austria is a mountainous land, covering about 83,879 square kilometers, or 32,386 square miles. To imagine its size, it is about the same size as the state of South Carolina in the U.S., or roughly twice the size of Switzerland. Most of the country is covered by the towering, snow-capped peaks of the Alps, making it one of the best places in the world for winter sports.

The most popular sport is Skiing, but the people are also very passionate about Football. Their national animal is the Golden Eagle, a majestic bird that soars over the high mountain ridges and represents strength and freedom.

The flag is one of the oldest in the world and consists of three horizontal stripes of red, white, and red, which according to legend was inspired by a brave duke whose white tunic was soaked in red during a battle, except for the part under his belt.

The food is famous for being warm and comforting. You must try Wiener Schnitzel, which is a thin, breaded and fried veal or pork cutlet, and for dessert, the world-famous Apple Strudel or a rich chocolate cake called Sachertorte.

Austria is home to the world’s largest ice cave, called Eisriesenwelt, which stretches for over 42 kilometers inside a mountain and is filled with giant natural ice sculptures. In the village of Grüner See, a park completely disappears underwater every spring when the mountain snow melts, turning the benches and bridges into an underwater world for divers! The country also has the oldest zoo in the world, located at Schönbrunn Palace, which has been open since the year 1752.

From the music of Mozart to the crystal-clear mountain lakes, Austria is a land of beauty and culture. Danke! That means “Thank you!”