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Although mires are widespread in Austria, they are not regularly distributed. Their frequency and extent is the result of a post-glacial interplay of natural conditions. Geology and relief as well as climate and water balance are the determining forces.
The distribution along an oceanic gradient is obvious. While the parts of the country with high precipitation in the west have an above-average abundance of mires, the Illyrian and Pannonian region in the east and south-east is, with a few exceptions and apart from the extensive reed belts of Lake Neusiedl, rather poor in mires.
The distribution of mires also follows an altitudinal gradient, with mire formation from the climatically more favourable lowlands to the mire-rich regions in the northern foothills of the Alps and the mire-poor subalpine to alpine mountain regions. Geomorphology is also responsible for the increased occurrence in submontane and montane altitudes. Flat, wide basins and comparatively gentle terrain facilitate the development of mires.
In Austria’s large landscapes, the granite and gneiss highlands, the northern Alpine foothills, the Klagenfurt Basin and the northern and central Alps generally provide the most favourable conditions for peatlands. According to the Peatland Strategy Austria 2030+, the extent of mires in Austria is estimated to be around 30.000 hectares, and that of peat soils at least 50.000 hectares.
