Chacaltaya

World's Highest Ski Area Closed

According to Yale Environment 360 report the world’s highest ski area Chacaltaya (which means "cold road" in Aymara) situated in Bolivia has ceased to function due to global warming. The snowcap where the ski area lays has melted down and now the area is barren and desolate.

Chacaltaya ski area was founded in 1939, i. e. 70 years back then. A road built by courageous locals in 1930s links Bolivian capital La Paz and Chacaltaya. The head of that construction perished in an avalanche in 1945 and is believed by Bolivians to be a victim of the snow gods disturbed by works.

Chacaltaya used to be operated only at weekends during so called 'warm season' which corresponds to Northern Hemisphere's winter, because Southern Hemisphere's winter conditions are too tough and rough. Chacaltaya used to be not only the highest ski area in the world but also the closest to the equator. It operated the oldest and fastest lift in South America.

As Chacaltaya is closed now, the highest ski area in the world now is Jade Dragon Ski Mountain located in Yunnan Province, China. The gondola access there was provided only in 1999. The gondola in Jade Dragon reaches height of 4516m and it is high enough for visitors to need altitude sickness tablets and oxygen bags. Besides, last year a surface tow at the top of the mountain was launched which created creating a basic ski area above the gondola.

Photo: by Joan Simon (wikimedia.org)

Date: 21/04/2009