Styria

Alpine state of southeast Austria, bordered to the east by Hungary and to the south by Slovenia; area 16,388 sq km/6,327 sq mi; population (2001 est) 1,185,900. Its capital is Graz.

Physical The province is mountainous, containing the outlying ranges of the eastern Alps (Dachstein 2,996 m/9,830 ft), and it is crossed west-east by the valleys of the Mur and Murz. The other principal rivers are the Enns and the Raab. The Alpine slopes are mainly forested.

Economy Industries include iron, steel, vehicles, electrical goods, computers, and engineering. Styria is Austria's leading mining province (lignite, magnesium, graphite, and iron ore are mined). There are large iron and steel works at Donauwitz-Leoben. Forestry is also a major industry. Close to half of the population is engaged in agriculture, primarily the raising of livestock and the cultivation of corn.

History Styria was part of the Roman province of Noricum. In the 6th century there was an influx of Slovenes, and in 1056 the district came into the possession of the Margraves of Steyr. It became Austrian in 1192, was ceded to Ottakar II of Bohemia in 1260, and to the Habsburgs in 1276. Before World War I it was a duchy and crown land of Austria. The Styrian districts, occupied by Slovenes, went to Yugoslavia in 1919 (Treaty of St Germain-En-Laye; Treaty of Trianon), and Yugoslavia made further claims after World War II.