Noise hotspots

This is how loud and how quiet it is in Vienna

The Gürtel is particularly noisy.(Bild: Wiener Linien/Helmer)

Two million people already live in Vienna. Nevertheless, the Austrian capital is one of the ten quietest cities in Europe, thanks in part to an action plan. But where is it loud, where is it quiet? How are attempts being made to reduce noise? And how loud is opening a packet of Mannerschnitten?

Anyone who lives in a big city like Vienna knows that it can certainly be loud. Those who live in the flight path or on major roads are particularly affected. But children can also drive the noise level up quite a bit.

But what actually is noise? The human hearing threshold is around 20 decibels, which is comparable to the rustling of leaves. A conversation is in the region of 60 decibels, music at 80 to 100 decibels. It becomes painful for the ear at around 120 decibels, like a thunderstorm. An airplane taking off is 140 decibels loud.