Editing Vorarlberg (section)

== Geography ==
[[Image:Vorarlberg Bezirke.png|thumb|Districts of Vorarlberg. Clockwise from north: [[Bregenz (district)|Bregenz]], [[Bludenz (district)|Bludenz]], [[Feldkirch (district)|Feldkirch]], and [[Dornbirn (district)|Dornbirn]]|alt=|270x270px]]
The main [[river]]s in Vorarlberg are the [[Ill (Vorarlberg)|Ill]] (running through the [[Montafon]] and Walgau valleys into the Rhine), the [[Rhine]] (forming the border with [[Switzerland]]), the [[Bregenzer Ache]] and the [[Dornbirner Ach]]. One of the shortest rivers is the [[Galina (Austria)|Galina]]. Important [[lake]]s, apart from [[Lake of Constance|Lake Constance]] are [[Lüner Lake]], [[Silvretta Reservoir]], [[Vermunt Lake]], [[Spuller Lake]], the [[Kops Basin]] and [[Formarinsee|Formarin Lake]]; the first four were created for the production of [[hydroelectric energy]]. However, even before the dam for the power plant was built, Lüner Lake was the largest mountain lake in the Alps. Most of this hydroelectric energy is exported to Germany at peak times. At night, energy from power plants in Germany is used to pump water back into some of the lakes.

There are several notable [[mountain range]]s in Vorarlberg, such as the [[Silvretta]], the [[Rätikon]], the [[Verwall Alps|Verwall]] and the [[Arlberg]] with many well-known [[List of ski areas in Austria|skiing regions and ski resorts]].

The tallest mountain is [[Piz Buin]], whose rocky peak of {{convert|3312|m|ft|abbr=on}} is surrounded by [[glacier]]s. The distance from Lake Constance and the plains of the Alpine Rhine valley across the medium altitude and high Alpine zones to the glaciers of the [[Silvretta Alps|Silvretta range]] is a mere {{convert|90|km|abbr=on}}.

[[Lake Constance]] is bordered by Germany, Switzerland and Austria and is Austria's and Germany's largest lake. It is also the venue for the annual [[Bregenzer Festspiele]].

=== Administrative divisions ===
Vorarlberg is divided into four large districts, from north to south: [[Bregenz District|Bregenz]], [[Dornbirn District|Dornbirn]], [[Feldkirch District|Feldkirch]] and [[Bludenz District|Bludenz]]. These districts appear on the [[Austrian car number plates|automobile license plates]] in form of abbreviations: B, DO, FK and BZ.

=== Biosphere reserve Großes Walsertal ===
[[File:Großes Walsertal.jpg|thumb|View upon the [[Biosphere Reserve Großes Walsertal|Biosphere Park Großes Walsertal]] from the Alpe Steris|280x280px]]The [[Biosphere Reserve Großes Walsertal]] covers about 19,200&nbsp;ha and hosts 3,420 inhabitants and around 180 farms (42% of which are organic <sup>as of 2022</sup><ref name="fah">{{cite web |title=Kurz gesagt |url=https://www.grosseswalsertal.at/Kurz_gesagt |access-date=11 May 2022}}</ref>). The reserve strives for a sustainable economy and tourism in the region and provides a platform for discussion about society, politics and science. The Biosphere Reserve Großes Walsertal has been a [[UNESCO]] [[Nature reserve|biosphere reserve]] since 2000. Biosphere reserves are the ecological counterpart of the cultural world heritage sites. The biosphere reserve's aim is sustainable development, education and research as well as the protection of natural diversity.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Biosphere Park Concept|language=en|url=http://www.grosseswalsertal.at/Biosphere_Park_Concept|access-date=2018-08-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kurz gesagt |url=https://www.grosseswalsertal.at/Kurz_gesagt |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=Biosphärenpark Großes Walsertal |language=de-AT}}</ref>

The '''[[Nagelfluhkette Nature Park]]''' is a cross-border nature park between the [[Germany|German]] [[Allgäu]] and the [[Austria]]n [[Bregenz Forest|Bregenzerwald]]. The nature park is 24,700 hectares in size. It comprises a high level of [[biodiversity]] which is the result of [[Alpine transhumance]] (the cultivation of the land by humans) and the geological diversity. The Nagelfluhkette Nature Park offers guided hiking tours.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Naturpark Nagelfluhkette |url=https://www.bregenzerwald.at/land-leute/naturpark-nagelfluhkette/ |access-date=2022-08-20 |website=Bregenzerwald in Vorarlberg |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Naturpark Nagelfluhkette |url=https://www.oberstaufen.info/politik/interkommunale-projekte/naturpark-nagelfluhkette/ |access-date=2022-08-20 |website=www.oberstaufen.info |language=de |archive-date=20 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820165334/https://www.oberstaufen.info/politik/interkommunale-projekte/naturpark-nagelfluhkette/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>