THE ALPINE COUNTRIES OF AUSTRIA.—This region includes Vorarlberg, Tyrol, Salzburg, Styria, Carinthia, and part of Carniola. The central range of the Alps becomes lower towards the east, while the limestone ranges are more developed both on the north and on the south. These limestone ranges are separated from the central range by longitudinal valleys, those of the Inn and the Enns in the north, and those of the Adige and the Drave in the south; and it is in these valleys that the cultivated land is generally found. From the climatic point of view, the whole region may be subdivided. The valleys opening towards the south have warm winters like those of Italy ; those opening to such as the Drave and the Save, partake of the cold, continental winters of the land towards which they look, while the northern valleys have winters which occupy an intermediate position between the two previous types.
The Eastern Alps differ from the Western in being, on the whole, more productive. The land which is absolutely useless does not exceed one-tenth of the whole ; over four-tenths is covered with forests, and much of the remainder is suitable for grazing purposes. The climatic conditions of the valleys are reflected in their products. In those opening to the north and east cereals are grown, while in those opening to the south the mulberry and the vine find a favourable environment.
Its mineral resources constitute much of the wealth of this region. Gold was formerly obtained in the ancient rocks of the central range, but the supplies there are now exhausted. Iron is found at various places, notably at Eisenerz, in the valley of a tributary of the Enns, where half the total amount of ore produced in the empire is obtained. Iron is also mined at Werfen in Salzburg,
Saualpe in Carinthia, and elsewhere. Lignite occurs in several Alpine valleys, chiefly in Styria, where it is worked at Leoben and Koflach, near Voitsberg and Eibiswald, and around Trifail and Hrastnig. The principal lead mines of the empire are at Bleiberg and Raibl in Carinthia, while copper and salt are both obtained in Salzburg, and mercury comes from Idria in Carniola.
The manufactures of the region are based to a great extent upon its mineral wealth. Among other places where iron is smelted, either by coke or by charcoal, are Eisenerz, Vordernberg, and Tro faiach in Styria, and St. Gertraud and St. Leonhard in Carinthia. Both provinces are engaged in the construction of agricultural and industrial machinery, and in the manufacture of arms. Styria is noted for its cutlery and tools, and Carinthia for its lead works. Leoben in the former province, and Klagenfurt in the latter, are important industrial towns.
The textile industries are situated chiefly in the Vorarlberg and in the Tyrol. In the Vorarlberg, the manufacture of cotton orig inated in the example set by Switzerland and in the presence of abundant supplies of water-power ; and, as electricity is now used in many of the mills, water-power is still of importance. The centre of the industry is at Dornbirn. There are also cotton mills in the north of the Tyrol, and silk is manufactured in the south of that province.