IDContinentCountryAreaIntroductionLatitudeLongitude
1AfricaAlgeriaChréaCoordinates: 36°25′37″N 2°52′35″E / 36.42694°N 2.87639°E / 36.42694; 2.87639Chréa is a town in Algeria, located in Blida Province, Bougara District, in a mountainous area named Tell Atlas, near Blida.In its municipality is situated the Chréa National Park, one of the smallest national parks of the country, and a ski resort.Within the national park is one of the few relict populations of the endangered primate, the Barbary macaque, Macaca sylvanus; this species of primate originally had a much wider range in Northern Algeria and Morocco. Geography Climate Located in the Atlas Mountains, at 1,458 metres (4,783 ft) above sea level, Chréa has a cool Mediterranean climate, with an average annual precipitation of 916 millimetres (36.1 in). Summers are warm and dry and winters are chilly and wetter, with snowfalls. This climate is described by the Köppen climate classification as Csb. This is one of the coldest places in Algeria.36.4269444444442.8763888888889
2AfricaAlgeriaTikjdaTikjda is a ski resort located in a mountain range named Djurdjura, northern Algeria, with an altitude of 1,600 metres (5,250 feet), in the province of Bouïra.In the summers, Tikjda offers walks, rock climbing and many short excursions, with places like Point de vue du Djurdjura and Gouffre de l Akouker. The area around Tikjda has many peaks and hillsides covered with cedar forests.The Mediterranean Sea can be spotted on clear days. Coordinates: 36°27′00″N 04°08′00″E / 36.45000°N 4.13333°E / 36.45000; 4.1333336.454.1333333333333
3AfricaLesothoAfriskiAfriski is the only skiing resort in Lesotho, located 3050 m above sea-level (just below Mahlasela Pass, 3222 m) in the Maluti Mountains, operating in Southern Africa near the northern border of Lesotho and South Africa. It is one of only two ski resorts in southern Africa. The resort is a 4.5-hour drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria via the steep tarred Moteng pass and the Mahlasela pass; it sits along Highway A1. The resort can accommodate about 250 people and offers a 1 km ski slope, beginners slope and operates during the winter months (June–August).-28.82277777777828.728055555556
4AfricaMoroccoIfraneIfrane[p] (Arabic: إفران ‎‎; Berber: ⵉⴼⵔⴰⵏ) is a city in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco (population 73,782 in November 2014). The capital of Ifrane Province in the region of Fès-Meknès, Ifrane is located at an elevation of 1,665 m (5,463 ft). In Tamazight, the regional Berber language, "ifran" means caves.The modern town of Ifrane was established by the French administration in 1928 during the protectorate era for their administration due to its Alpine climate. Ifrane was conceived as a “hill station” or colonial type of settlement. It is a resort town set high up in the mountains so that Europeans can find relief from the summer heat of tropical colonies. Ifrane is also a popular altitude training destination.The first permanent settlement of the area dates to the 16th century, when the Sharif of Sîdî Abd al-Salâm established his community in the Tizguit Valley, seven km downstream from the present town. Ifrane is a colonial “hill station”, and a “garden city”. It is also an “imperial city”, a mountain resort, a provincial administrative center, and a college town. History The first permanent settlement of the area dates to the 16th century, when a sharîf by the name of Sîdî ‘Abd al-Salâm established his community in the Tizguit Valley, seven km downstream from the present town. In Tamazight, the regional Berber language, yfran means “caves”. Sîdî ‘Abd al-Salâm’s village, called Zaouiat Sidi Abdeslam (or simply the zâwiyah), consisted at first of cave dwellings hollowed out of the limestone valley wall. Only in the last fifty years or so have its inhabitants build houses above ground. The caves which now lie under these houses are still used as mangers for animals and for storage.By the mid-17th century Sîdî ‘Abd al-Salâm’s zâwiyah was well enough established to receive an extensive iqtâ’, or land grant, from the ‘Alâwî sultan Mûlây Rashîd b. Muhammad. The iqtâ’ extended from upstream of present Ifrane down the Tizguit valley all the way to El Hajeb escarpment. Late in the 19th century agro-pastoral groups of the Amazigh Senhadja Beni M’guild and Zenata the Ait Seghrouchen, crossing the Middle Atlas from the upper Moulouya Plain, started grazing their herds of sheep and goats on the surrounding plateau. The livelihood of the zâwiyah was based on irrigated agriculture on the valley floor, livestock grazing and forest resources.The agricultural plots were held as private property (mulk) but the grazing land was under collective tribal jurisdiction (j’maa). The tribally organized populations of the Ifrane- Azrou area submitted to colonial rule after a period of resistance (1913–1917). Resistance continued higher in the mountains (Timahdit, Jebel Fazzaz) until 1922. Modern history The modern town of Ifrane was established by the French administration in 1929 on land expropriated from the inhabitants of the zâwiya. The town was to be a "hill station," a cool place for colonial families to spend the hot summer months, and it was initially planned according to the "garden city" model of urban design then in vogue. The plan called for chalet-type summer homes in the Alpine style, laid out among gardens and curving tree-lined streets. A royal palace was also built for Sultan Muhammad b. Yûsuf. The town s first public buildings consisted of a post office and a church. Moreover, a penitentiary was built which served as a POW camp during World War II.As elsewhere in Morocco, a shanty town called Timdiqîn soon grew up next to the colonial establishment. It housed the Moroccan population (maids, gardeners, etc.) that serviced the French vacationers. Timdiqîn was separated from the colonial garden city by a deep ravine. After independence the French properties in the original garden city were slowly bought up by Moroccans. The town was enlarged and endowed with a mosque, a municipal market and public housing estates. Furthermore, the shanty neighborhood of Timdiqîn was rebuilt with proper civic amenities.In 1979 Ifrane became the seat of the administrative province of the same name and some government services were established. In 1995 Al Akhawayn University, an English-language, American-curriculum public university opened and this has helped re-launch Ifrane as a desirable destination for domestic tourism. Consequently, Ifrane continues to develop as both a summer and winter resort. Old chalets in the center of town are being demolished and replaced with condominium complexes, while vacation centers and gated housing estates are springing up on the outskirts.The Middle Atlas Mountains consist mostly of a series of limestone plateaus. Not far from Ifrane in the Middle Atlas is Cèdre Gouraud Forest. These plateaus receive considerable precipitation—averaging about 1100/1200 ml/year in Ifrane—and are naturally wooded, with scrub oak forests alternating with cedar. The Middle Atlas lies in the center of Morocco and constitutes its natural water tower, as many of the country’s most important river systems: the Moulouya, the Sebou, the Bou Regreg, and the Oum Rbia originate in it. Historically, however, despite its centrality, the Middle Atlas has been an “empty quarter.” Though the area was regularly crossed by traders, and though the alpine summer pasture was used by herders, the harsh climate and relatively poor soils long impeded permanent human settlement. Today the Middle Atlas is still one of the least densely populated parts of Morocco, even when compared to other mountainous regions such as the High Atlas and the Rif.A small fort overlooking Oued Tizguit (now part of the palace precinct) had already been built during the period of military conquest in order to secure the Fez to Khenifra road across the mountains. The gently rolling landscape, with fresh springs and wildflowers, was judged to have potential as a summer resort for colon families from the Saïss Plain, Meknes and Fez. Fifty hectares of agricultural land upstream from the zâwiyah, in an area originally designated as Tourthit, or “garden,”was expropriated for the project.Ifrane was conceived as a “hill station” or colonial type of settlement. It is a resort town set high up in the mountains so that Europeans can find relief from the summer heat of tropical colonies. The British were the first to develop this type of resort in India, the best known of which is Simla in the Himalayas which served as their “summer capital.” The French built similar hill stations in Indochina, such as Dalat established in 1921. Ifrane was not the only hill station to be built in Morocco. The French also built one in neighboring Immouzer, as well as at Oukaimeden in the High Atlas. Hill stations share some common characteristics. As they are intended for expatriate European families, and they are often designed in such a way as to remind their foreign inhabitants of their distant homelands. The architectural style adopted is imported from the mother country in order that the place look like “little England” or “douce France.” This is the case in Ifrane where various mountain styles such as “maison basque” “Jura” and “Savoy” were used. Moreover, trees and flowering plants were also imported from the European home country. This too was intended to heighten the appearance and feeling of home. In Ifrane, lilac trees, plane trees (platanes), chestnut trees (marronniers and châtaigniers) and linden trees (tilleuls) were all imported for this purpose. Ifrane "Garden City" Ifrane was planned according to the “garden city” model of urban design, fashionable in Western Europe between the two world wars. The concept of the garden city was originally developed in Britain as a model of social reform to solve the problems of 19th century industrial cities. By the 1920s however it had lost its social purpose to become an urban design type. Garden cities required low density housing consisting of fully detached or semi-detached single family homes surrounded by gardens.In order to break with industrial-era grid plans, garden cities were always laid out with curving tree-lined streets. In fact, most garden cities were affluent suburbs, not true cities in their own right. They catered to the tastes of the upper middle classes who could afford to own a private automobile and property in the suburbs. They gave the illusion of county life, with village-type architecture, curvy streets and lots of trees, to people who in reality worked in big cities. Ifrane’s initial garden city plan was designed in 1928 in Rabat by the Services Techniques of the Bureau de Contrôle des Municipalités, a division of the Direction des Affairs Politiques.The 1928 plan - for the neighborhood known as Hay Riad today - had typical garden city features: curvy streets named for flora (Rue des lilas, Rue des tilleuls,etc.), and chalet-style houses. Houses could occupy only 40% of plots; the rest had to be planted as a garden. Moreover,large parts of the center of the town consisted of public gardens. Some of the original architecture can still be seen, especially in the neighborhood around the town hall and the Perce Neige Hotel. The summer homes built by the colons were designed by many of the same architects who built the European parts of Casablanca and Rabat. Whereas the European architecture in these big cities was innovative and intentionally modern, Ifrane’s houses were built in traditional European styles and resembled those in the suburbs of contemporaneous French cities.Ifranes’s first public buildings were a post office and a Catholic church. The church, consecrated in 1939, was designed by Paul Tournon (1881–1964), a recipient of the prestigious Prix de Rome who had also designed the Sacré Coeur Church in Casablanca. The resort function of the new town was consolidated with the building of a number of hotels. Ifrane’s first flagship hotel was the Balima, which was demolished in the 1980s. The other main hotel was the Grand Hôtel, which has recently been refurbished. A royal palace was also built for Sultan Muhammad b.Yûsuf.Ifrane is thus an “imperial” city in that it houses a palace and benefits from royal patronage.One final institution of Ifrane’s early years worthy of mention is the penitentiary which no longer exists, and the site, across from the Police Academy and the new police Commissariat, has been redeveloped as a summer camp for the Ministry of Justice. The penitentiary served as a Prisoner of War camp during World War II. The popular story of the origin of Ifrane’s lion sculpture involves an Italian inmate of this prison sculpting the lion out of an outcrop of limestone, however this is not true as the lion dates from at least 1936 thus predating World War II.[6]The garden city hill station high in the Middle Atlas was always going to be an illusion of suburban middle class France. The colonial reality of the place was manifest in two ways. First of all the inhabitants of Zaouiat Sidi Abdeslam, the original owners of the land on which the town was built, were never properly compensated for their loss. Secondly, the initial town plan was incomplete. Provisions were made for the housing and infrastructure of colon home-owners, but not for the Moroccan maids, gardeners or guards who worked for them. Finding no housing in the official allotments, these people had to build their own houses some distance away, across a ravine north of the town. As elsewhere in Morocco at the time, a shantytown thus grew up next to the colonial town. This is the origin of Timdiqin (officially called Hay Atlas). Climate Because of its elevation, the town experiences snow during the winter months and a cool climate during the summer.[7]Located in the Atlas Mountains, and affected by the cold north Atlantic current, Ifrane has an oceanic climate with continental influence. The climate shifts from cold in winter to warm days in the summer months. The nights can be severely cold in winter. Although it usually drops below freezing point, the "real feel" is usually -9/10 lower than the real temperature. The winter highs rarely exceed 10 °C (50.0 °F) in December–February.Owing to the city’s elevation and proximity to the north Atlantic Ocean, rainfall is very heavy whenever frontal systems affect the region. Precipitation patterns follow the classic Mediterranean range, from October to April. The city also receives high snowfall starting as early as October and lasting well into spring season. The annual average temperature does not exceed 11 °C.Ifrane holds the record of the coldest temperature ever registered in Africa: −23.9 °C (−11.0 °F) on February 11, 1935.[7] Flora and fauna Animals to be found in the vicinity include the threatened Barbary macaque.[9] Among the local tree species are the native Atlas cedar, scrub oak and the introduced London plane. Media related to Ifrane at Wikimedia CommonsCoordinates: 33°32′N 5°07′W / 33.533°N 5.117°W / 33.533; -5.11733.533333333333-5.1166666666667
5AfricaMoroccoMischliffenMischliffen or Michlifen is a mountain town in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco at an altitude of 2,100 metres (6,900 ft).It is considered to be the "Moroccan Aspen" with skiing facilities in the winter.[citation needed] King Mohammed VI has a large palace there. Coordinates: 33°32′4.85″N 5°6′27.36″W / 33.5346806°N 5.1076000°W / 33.5346806; -5.107600033.534680555556-5.1076
6AfricaMoroccoOukaimedenOukaïmeden is a ski resort in the Atlas mountains near Jebel Toubkal, about 80 kilometres (50 mi) from Marrakesh, Morocco.The skiing area is at an altitude of between 2,600 metres (8,500 ft) and 3,200 metres (10,500 ft) and has two ski lifts. There are some hotels and ski rental facilities nearby. Weather averages – Source: Coordinates: 31°12′19″N 7°51′44″W / 31.205167°N 7.862263°W / 31.205167; -7.86226331.205167-7.862263
7AfricaSouth AfricaTiffindellTiffindell Ski Resort a year round alpine resort, the only ski resort in South Africa and one of the two ski resorts in Southern Africa. It was established in 1993 in the Southern Drakensberg, South Africa. Location Tiffindell is located at 2,720 m (8,920 ft) on the south facing slope of Ben Macdhui, the highest mountain in the Eastern Cape with an elevation of 3,001 m (9,846 ft). It is situated 24 km (15 mi) above the town of Rhodes and about 212 km (132 mi) east of Aliwal North. Reopening The resort was sold at auction on 12 July 2012 for R5.5-million ($1.05 million USD) and is now under new ownership and re-open in 2013. The reopening saw a successful first season, continued on in 2014 with the second winter season and continues as a year round alpine resort. Skiing and snowboarding Tiffindell uses snowmaking and grooming machines to maintain the ski hill. Snowmaking currently covers in excess of 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) of ski runs for about 3 months of the year (June–August) during an average winter. It offers a snow fun-park with rails and jumps, equipment rentals and instructors.-30.6507927.92634
8AsiaAzerbaijanShahdag Mountain ResortShahdag Mountain Resort is Azerbaijan s first and largest winter resort. Resort The Shahdag Mountain Resort Complex (Şahdağ Turizm Merkezi) was open to the public in 2012. It is located in the Azerbaijan s Greater Caucasus range, the site is located near Shahdag National Park, which is known for having an intact ecological system and an untouched flora and fauna.It is the first and largest ski resort in Azerbaijan. Plans for the project include 10-12 3 star hotels, golf-clubs, 160-180 cottages, Aqua Park and other objects (places for living of employees, car parks, workshops for technical works etc.) in the complex. Technical Specifications The winter season in Shahdag begins in the second half of December and finishes at the beginning of April, depending on snow conditions. In the website of Shahdag the opening information is constantly updated for every season. Main Developer Ministry of Culture and Tourism (Azerbaijan) / The Administration of Shahdag Mountain Resort Operator PGI Management Elevation differencere 1.435-2.100m Passenger capacity 11.400 skiers/hour Skiable area Lifts 12 Lifts Slopes 14 Slopes: Produced snow Free style 2 Free style areas / snow parks Ski School There are 3 Ski and Mountain School with national and international instructors Kids Club Kindergarten / Kids Club Rescue and medical service There is a rescue service in all of the slopes and a Medical Centre at Lift Base Winter activities There are Winter Activities Area at Lift Base including Segway, Snowmobile, snowshoing, quads for kids, etc. Shop and Rentals Hotels Currently there are 5 Hotels opened. Current hotel beds in Shahdag Mountain Resort:Total 1.156 beds Restaurants 20 Restaurants, caffés and bars: SPA and Wellness 4 SPA, Wellness and Fitness Centres: Conference Centres There are 3 Conference Centres located in: Parking There are 7 Car Parks: Shahdag in the Summer Shahdag Mountain Resort offers a wide range of activities to suit all ages during the summer, from an Adventure Park, to inflatable castles and quads bikes to Nordic walking and even Orienteering. List of summer activities Coordinates: 41°19′18″N 48°08′53″E / 41.32167°N 48.14806°E / 41.32167; 48.1480641.32166666666748.148055555556
9AsiaAzerbaijanTufandag Ski Resort
10AsiaChinaBeidahu, JilinBeidahu ski area (北大湖) is a downhill ski resort located outside of Jilin City in Jilin province, China. It is the site of the 2007 Winter Asian Games. Intrawest has recently signed a letter of intent with the local government to assist in the development and operation of the area.[citation needed]
11AsiaChinaGenting Resort Secret Garden, Hebe
12AsiaChinaJade Dragon Mountain, Lijiang, Yunnan
13AsiaChinaNanshan Ski Village, Beijing
14AsiaChinaSonghuahu, Jilin
15AsiaChinaWanlong Ski Resort, Hebei
16AsiaChinaXiling Snow-capped Mountain, Chengdu
17AsiaChinaYabuli Ski Resort, HeilongjiangYabuli Ski Resort (simplified Chinese: 亚布力滑雪旅游度假区; traditional Chinese: 亞布力滑雪旅遊度假區; pinyin: Yàbùlì Huáxuě Lǚyóu Dùjià Qū) is the largest ski resort in China and includes the country s largest ski jumping facilities , located in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang. It is 110 mi (177 km) southeast from Harbin, approximately 2.5hrs by train. Yabuli hosted the 1996 Winter Asian Games, the 2008 National Winter Games and the 2009 Winter Universiade. Yabuli underwent major renovations in the 2008/2009 winter season. A new four seater Doppelmayr chairlift was installed, along with a six-seater gondola. Existing lifts consist of single chairlift, double chairlifts and poma s. Three new on-snow hotels/lodges are being constructed and should be open by mid-January 2009.[needs update] 2009 Winter Universiade In February 2009 Yabuli Ski Resort hosted the Alpine, Nordic, and Freestyle Skiing events of the 2009 Winter Universiade. Student athletes from 44 countries competed in the games. The ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating and curling events were held in the city of Harbin, while the snowboarding events and biathlon were held in Mao ershan Ski Resort. Yabuli Ski Resort received substantial infrastructure upgrades prior to the games, including a 4-seater chair, gondola, a modern ski hire and hotel near the base of the resort.44.781455555556128.45020833333
18AsiaChinaYulongxueshan, Yunnan
19AsiaIndiaKufri
20AsiaIndiaManali
21AsiaIndiaNarkandaNarkanda is a town and a nagar panchayat in Shimla district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is at an altitude of 2708 meters on the Hindustan-Tibet Road (NH 22) in Himachal Pradesh, India. It is about 65 km from Shimla and surrounded by the Shivalik Range that span a large part of Himachal Pradesh.It is a skiing resort in winter. It connects Shimla with Rampur and a detour also goes to Thanedhar, the prime apple belt of Himachal Pradesh where Satyananda Stokes started the apple culture. Geography Narkanda is located at 31°16′N 77°27′E / 31.27°N 77.45°E / 31.27; 77.45. It has an average elevation of 2621 metres (8599 feet). Hatu Peak which is at 11000 ft is 5 km from Narkanda. Kotgarh is 16 km from Narkanda and famous for apple orchards. Satyanand Stokes brought the apple to this place and helped strengthen the economy of this area. Today Rs 3,000 Crore direct and indirect income is generated through apple production.Presently apple growers are shifting to bring their farm under cherry cultivation to fetch fast money in their pocket as holdings are marginalised due to population factor.The grandson of Mr. Stokes is experimenting to develop new variety of apple for better production. Demographics As of 2010[update] India census, Narkanda had a population of 2712. Males constitute 62% of the population and females 38%. Narkanda has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 72%. In Narkanda, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.31.2777.45
22AsiaIndiaAuliAuli is a ski destination in Chamoli district in the Himalayan mountains of Uttarakhand, India. Auli, also known as Auli Bugyal, in Garhwali, which means "meadow", is located at an elevation of 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) to 3,050 metres (10,010 ft) above sea level. After the creation of the state of Uttarakhand, formerly part of Uttar Pradesh, Auli was marketed as a tourist destination. Auli lies on the way to the Hindu pilgrimage destination of Badrinath. It is surrounded by coniferous and oak forests, with a panoramic view of the peaks of the Himalayas. The slopes are intended for both professional skiers and novices. The Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Limited (GMVNL) a state govt agency which takes care of this resort, and Uttarakhand Tourism Department conduct winter sports competitions at Auli to encourage skiing in India. It has a 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) cable car, a chairlift and a ski lift, along with a maintained trek route. There is a training facility of Indo-Tibetan Border Police. A small Hindu temple connected with the Hindu epic the Ramayana is also present. Transportation The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, about 281 kilometres (175 mi) from Auli. The airport operates daily flights to Delhi, The nearest international airport is Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, about 500 kilometres (310 mi) from Auli.The nearest railway stations are Rishikesh railway station (210 kilometres (130 mi)) and Dehradun railway station (160 kilometres (99 mi)).Nearby attractions include Vishnu Prayag, Joshimath, Badrinath, and TapovanAuli and Dehradun hosted the First South Asian Winter Games in 2011.30.5289279.57026
23AsiaIndiaDayara Bugyal
24AsiaIndiaMundali
25AsiaIndiaLachungLachung is a town and hill station in northeast Sikkim, India. It is located in the North Sikkim district near the border with Tibet. Lachung is at an elevation of about 9,600 feet (2,900 m) and at the confluence of the lachen and Lachung Rivers, both tributaries of the River Teesta. The word Lachung means "small pass". The town is approximately 125 kilometres (78 mi) from the capital Gangtok.The Indian Army has a forward base in the town. Before the Chinese annexation of Tibet in 1950, Lachung was a trading post between Sikkim and Tibet, after which it was closed down. The town s economy has been boosted by tourism in recent years as the region has been opened up by the Indian government. Tourists come from all over the world to visit the town between October and May, mostly on their way to the Yumthang Valley and the Lachung Monastery. Most of Lachung s inhabitants are of Lepcha and Tibetan descent. Languages spoken here are Nepali, Lepcha and Bhutia. During winter the town is usually covered in snow. Lachung is also the base camp for Rhododendron Valley Trek which starts from Yumthang Valley and ends at Lachen Valley.Lachung has been described as the "most picturesque village of Sikkim" by British explorer Joseph Dalton Hooker in his definitive, The Himalayan Journal (1855). Skiing is conducted in Phuni near this town.Gujaratigujarati Media related to Lachung at Wikimedia Commons27.6988.746
26AsiaIndiaYumthangThe Yumthang Valley is a grazing pasture surrounded by the Himalayan mountains in the North Sikkim district of Sikkim, India. It is at an elevation of 3,564 metres (11,693 ft) above msl at a distance of 150 kilometres (93 mi) from the state capital Gangtok.It is popularly known as Valley of Flowers and is home to the Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary, which has over twenty-four species of the rhododendron, the state flower. A tributary of the river Teesta flows past the valley and the town of Lachung, the nearest inhabited centre. Yumthang is closed between December and March due to heavy snowfall.A forest rest house is the only permanent residence in the valley. During the spring months, the area blooms with rhododendrons, primulas, poppies, iris and other flora. During the summer months, villagers take their cattle to these heights to graze (a practice known as yaylag pastoralism). In view of increasing number of tourists, there is possibility of environmental degradation in near future. Skiing is conducted in the valley. Transportation by road Tourists may travel from Gangtok to Lachung (the nearest village where accommodation is available) by booking a full vehicle or shared one and stay over night. A direct journey to Yumthang is not feasible as roads are commonly foggy and it becomes dark very early around 5:30 pm. A trip to the Valley takes around two hours from Lachung, which is about 125 km from Gangtok.27.826888.6959
27AsiaIndiaGulmargGulmarg is a town, a hill station, a popular skiing destination and a notified area committee in Baramula district in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The town is situated in the Pirpanjal range in the western Himalayas. History Originally named Gaurimarg ("the fair one") by shepherds in honor of the Hindu goddess Parvati, the resort was renamed Gulmarg (“meadow of flowers”) by Sultan Yusuf Shah of the Chak Dynasty who frequented the place with his queen Habba khatoon in the 16th century. Wild flowers of 21 different varieties were collected by the Mughal emperor Jahangir for his gardens in Gulmarg. In the 19th century, British civil servants started using Gulmarg as a retreat to escape summers in North Indian plains. Hunting and golfing were their favorite pastime and three golf courses were established in Gulmarg including one exclusively for women. One of the three golf courses established survives to the present day and at an altitude of 2,650 metres (8,690 ft) is the world s highest golf course. In 1927, British established a ski club in Gulmarg and two annual ski events were hosted one each during Christmas and Easter. Central Asian explorer Aurel Stein also visited Gulmarg during this period.After the end of London colonial rule, Gulmarg became a part of the independent princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. To ensure the accession of the princely state, Pakistan planned an invasion of the state called Operation Gulmarg. One of the routes used by the invading militia of Pathan tribesmen, armed and supported by Pakistani regular troops, passed through the Haji Pir pass and Gulmarg onto the state capital Srinagar. Gulmarg fell to the invading army, but the Indian army led by the 1 Sikh Regiment, which had been airlifted to Srinagar only after the Dogra ruler of the state Maharaja Hari Singh had signed an Instrument of Accession with India on 26 October 1947, successfully defended the outskirts of Srinagar. Thereafter, Indian counterattack pushed the tribesmen backwards and many towns including Gulmarg were recaptured. In 1948, Indian Army established a ski school in Gulmarg which later became the High Altitude Warfare School of the Indian army specializing in snow–craft and winter warfare. On 1 January 1949, the war ended under UN supervision and a Ceasefire line (CFL), which was rechristened the Line of Control (LOC) by the Shimla Agreement of 1972, came into being close to Gulmarg.Post Indian Independence, Indian planners sought to develop a destination for Winter sports in India. The Department of Tourism of the Government of India invited Rudy Matt, in 1960 to select a suitable location for such purpose. Matt zeroed in on Gulmarg as suitable location for development of a Winter sports destination in India. In 1968, Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering was established in Gulmarg to train ski instructors. Over the next decade Indian planners invested ₹30 million (US$450,000) to transform Gulmarg into a world class ski destination. Gulmarg became a centre for skiers from Asian nations. In mid-1980s, Heli-skiing was introduced in Gulmarg in collaboration with the French skier Sylvain Saudan of Himalaya Heli-Ski Club of France.In the 1990s, the rise of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir affected tourism in Gulmarg. With the abatement of terrorism in the area, tourism started to recover in late 1990s. Work on the cable car project between Gulmarg and Apharwat Peak, which was commissioned in 1988 by Government of Jammu and Kashmir but was subsequently abandoned due to militancy in 1990, was resumed in 1998. In May 1998, Phase 1 of the project, between Gulmarg and Kongdori, began its commercial operation. In May 2005, Phase 2 of the project was also inaugurated making it one of the longest and highest rope ways of Asia. The chairlift installed as a part of Phase 3 of the project began its operations in 2011. India’s National Winter Games were held in Gulmarg in 1998, 2004 and 2008. Tourism in Gulmarg was affected again by a grenade attack in 2008 killed one tourist and injured five others. In 2014, Government of Jammu and Kashmir drafted a Master Plan–2032 for Gulmarg. The plan includes development of a solid waste treatment plant on 20 acres of land close to Gulmarg. Geography Gulmarg lies in a cup shaped valley in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas, at an altitude of 2,650 m (8,694 ft), 56 km from Srinagar. The soil in Gulmarg comprises glacial deposits, lacustrine deposits and moraines of pleistocene era covering shales, limestones, sandstones, schists and other varieties of rocks. The natural meadows of Gulmarg, which are covered with snow in winter, allow the growth of wild flowers such as daisies, forget-me-nots and butter cups during spring and summer. The meadows are interspersed by enclosed parks and small lakes, and surrounded by forests of green pine and fir. Skiing and other winter sports in Gulmarg are carried out on the slopes of Apharwat peak at a height of 4,267 m (13,999 ft). Many points on Apharwat peak and Khilanmarg offer a panoramic view of Nanga Parbat and Harmukh mountains. Climate Demographics At the 2011 Indian census, Gulmarg had a total population of 1,965 over 77 households. Male population in the town stood at 1,957 while there were only eight females and no children between the ages of 0 and 6 years. Gulmarg had an average literacy rate of 99.24%, compared to the state average of 67.16%, of which male literacy was 99.23% and female literacy was 100%. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes constituted 0.61% and 0.15% of the population respectively. Gulmarg has few permanent residents with most residents being tourists or those involved in the tourism industry. Gulmarg is also a destination for nomadic Gujjar and Bakarwal tribes which migrate to upper reaches of Himalayas during summers in search of pasture. Tourism According to CNN, Gulmarg is the "heartland of winter sports in India" and was rated as Asia s seventh best ski destination. The town is accessible from Srinagar by road via Tangmarg. The road climbs uphill in the last 12 kilometres to Gulmarg passing through forests of pine and fir. Winter sports like skiing, tobogganing, snowboarding and heli-skiing take place on the slopes of Mount Apharwat reachable by a Gondola lift. Gulmarg Gondola Built by the French company Pomagalski, the Gulmarg Gondola is one of the highest in the world reaching 3,979 metres. The two-stage ropeway ferries about 600 people per hour to and from Gulmarg to a shoulder of nearby Mt. Apharwat Summit (4,200 m (13,780 ft)). The first stage transfers from Gulmarg at 2,600 m (8,530 ft) to Kongdoori at 3,080 m. The second stage which has 36 cabins and 18 towers, takes passengers to a height of 3,950 m (12,959 ft) on the Apharwat Peak (4,200 m (13,780 ft)). A chair lift system connects Kongdoori with Mary’s shoulder for taking skiers to higher altitude. The high inflow of tourists has had an effect on the fragile eco-system of Gulmarg and activists have demanded tightened regulation to save the environment of the area from over tourism. Culture Gulmarg has been the shooting location many Bollywood films like Bobby, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Highway, Phantom, Haider, etc. A scene in Bobby was shot in a hut in Gulmarg that later come to be known as Bobby Hut . An annual three-day Gulmarg Winter Festival is held in March. Budding artists in the fields of music, films and photography are given an opportunity to showcase their work during the festival.34.0574.38
28AsiaIndiaPahalgamPahalgam is a town and a notified area committee in Anantnag district of the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. It is a popular tourist destination and hill station. It is located 45 kilometres (28 mi) from Anantnag on the banks of Lidder River at an altitude of 7,200 feet (2,200 m). Pahalgam is the headquarters of one of the five tehsils of Anantnag district. Pahalgam is associated with the annual Amarnath Yatra. Chandanwari, located 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) from Pahalgam is the starting point of the yatra that takes place every year in the months of July-August. Geography Pahalgam is located at 34°01′N 75°11′E / 34.01°N 75.19°E / 34.01; 75.19. Pahalgam holds a central position in the Lidder Valley. It has an average elevation of 2,740 metres (8,990 ft). Climate Pahalgam has Sub-Tropical Highland climate with long and cold winter with short and mild summer. Demographics As of 2011[update] India census, Pahalgam had a population of 5922. Males constitute 56% of the population and females 44%. The average literacy rate is 35%, lower than the Indian national average of 59.5% with male literacy at 49% and female literacy at 17%. About 14% of the population is under 6 years of age. Administration Pahalgam is administered by the Pahalgam Development Authority, headed by a Chief Executive Officer who functions as the administrator of local town area committee. Flora and fauna The area holds a rich cover of vegetation, the dominant forest consisting of conifers which account for over 90%. The principal species are Cedrus deodara, Pinus griffithii, Abies pindrow, Aesculus indica etc. The major shrubs are Indigofera heterantha, Viburnum spp., Sorbaria tomentosa etc. the ground cover is very rich and dicotyledonus herbs dominate: Rumex patientia, Primula spp., anemone spp., etc.There are many species of rare, endangered and protected species. The main species are hangul, musk deer, serow, brown bear, Leopard, rhesus macaque, grey langur, Himalayan mouse hare, etc. Wild bears still roam much of the area, and local villagers are on constant alert for their presence. Due to the constant threat of illegal border crossings, the Indian army is always patrolling the area and is on constant high alert. As the local population cannot carry firearms, this has saved the bears from being hunted to extinction. With the abundance of fresh trout in the rivers and local farm animals, they have plenty to eat. Monkeys also populate the area. The area houses a good population of pheasants and upland birds apart from other species, both resident and migratory. The common birds are griffon vulture, monal, snow cock, koklas, blue rock pigeon, Kashmir roller, European hoopoe, jungle crow etc. Places of Interest Kolhoi Glacier Kolohoi Glacier, situated up the Lidder Valley, just below Kolhoi Peak is currently a hanging glacier. It is accessible from Pahalgam via Aru and is known to have extended for at least 35 kilometres (22 mi). According to the mountaineers from Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering, in 2008, the glacier receded by half since 1985 and it is not safe to study because it is hollow and has 200-foot-deep (61 m) crevices. Betaab Valley Betaab Valley is a valley located 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Pahalgam. The valley got its name from a Bollywood movie Betab that was shot here. Terror attack On 1 August 2000, at least 32 people including 23 Amarnath pilgrims and two police officers were killed when separatist militants threw hand grenades and attacked a hotel and police camp with small arms.34.0175.19
29AsiaIndiaTawangTawang is a town situated at an elevation of approximately 3,048 metres (10,000 ft) in the northwestern part of Arunachal Pradesh in India. The area is administered by the Republic of India as a part of the North East state of Arunachal Pradesh and is claimed by People s Republic of China as a part of South Tibet. The town once served as the district headquarters of West Kameng district, and became the district headquarters of Tawang district when it was formed from West Kameng. History Tawang was historically part of Tibet inhabited by the Monpa people. The Tawang Monastery was founded by the Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso in 1681 in accordance with the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, and has an interesting legend surrounding its name, which means "Chosen by Horse". The sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso, was born in Tawang.The 1914 Simla Accord defined the McMahon Line as the new boundary between British India and Tibet. By this treaty Tibet relinquished several hundred square miles of its territory, including Tawang, to the British, but it was not recognised by China. The British did not take possession of Tawang and Tibet continued to administer and collect taxes in Tawang. When the British botanist Frank Kingdon-Ward crossed the Sela Pass and entered Tawang in 1935 without permission from Tibet, he was briefly arrested. This drew the attention of the British, who re-examined the Indo-Tibetan border and rediscovered that Tibet had ceded Tawang to British India. Tibet did not repudiate the Simla Accord and the McMahon Line but refused to surrender Tawang, partly because of the importance attached to the Tawang Monastery. In 1938 the British made a cautious move to assert sovereignty over Tawang by sending a small military column under Capt. G.S. Lightfoot to Tawang.Lightfoot s brief visit elicited a strong diplomatic protest from Tibet but did not cause any territorial change. After the outbreak of the war with Japan in 1941 the government of Assam undertook a number of forward policy measures to tighten their hold on the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) area, which later became Arunachal Pradesh. In 1944 administrative control was extended over the area of the Tawang tract lying South of the Sela Pass when J.P. Mills set up an Assam Rifles post at Dirang Dzong and sent the Tibetan tax-collectors packing. Tibetan protests were brushed aside. However, no steps were taken to evict the Tibetan from the area North of the pass which contained Tawang town.The situation continued after India s independence but underwent a decisive change in 1950 when Tibet lost its de facto independence and was incorporated into the newly established People s Republic of China. In February 1951, Major Ralengnao Bob Khathing led an Assam Rifles column to Tawang town and took control of the remainder of the Tawang tract from the Tibetans, removing the Tibetan administration. During the Sino-Indian war of 1962, Tawang fell briefly under Chinese control, but China voluntarily withdrew its troops at the end of the war. Tawang again came under Indian administration, but China has not relinquished its claims on most of Arunachal Pradesh including Tawang.The MLA (August 2016) of Tawang constituency is Tsering Tashi. Geography Tawang town is located approximately 555 kilometres (345 mi) from Guwahati and 320 kilometres (200 mi) from Tezpur. Tawang has an average elevation of 2,669 metres (8,757 ft). Demographics As of the 2011 census, Tawang had a population of 11,202. Tawang Monastry Tawang Monastery was founded by the Mera Lama Lodre Gyatso in accordance to the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama, Nagwang Lobsang Gyatso. It belongs to the Gelugpa sect and is the largest Buddhist monastery in India. The name Tawang (Tibetan: རྟ་དབང་, Wylie: Rta-dbang) means Horse Chosen. It is said to be the biggest Buddhist monastery in the world outside of Lhasa, Tibet. It is a major holy site for Tibetan Buddhists as it was the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama.When the 14th Dalai Lama fled from Tibet to escape from Chinese army, he crossed into India on 30 March 1959 and spent some days at the Tawang Monastery before reaching Tezpur in Assam on 18 April. Tawang Monastery is said to be the biggest Buddhist monastery in the world outside of Lhasa, Tibet. Until 2003, the Dalai Lama said that Arunachal Pradesh was "actually part of Tibet". He reversed his position in 2008, acknowledging the legitimacy of the McMahon Line and the Indian claim to the region. The Dalai Lama visited Tawang on 8 November 2009. About 30,000 people, including those from neighbouring Nepal and Bhutan, attended his religious discourse. Connectivity The nearest airports are at Salonibari Airport in Tezpur (319 kilometres (198 mi)) and Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati. By road, Tawang is 440 kilometres (270 mi) from capital Itanagar and is connected with buses run by APSRTC and private services. The nearest railway station is at Naharlagun, which is connected to major cities. A broad-gauge railway line connecting Missamari in Assam with Tawang has been proposed and a survey for the line was sanctioned in 2011. Tourism Tawang receives snowfall every year during December–January. There is also a ski lift in town. Visitors to Tawang, as is the case with the entire Arunachal Pradesh, require special Inner Line Permit (ILP) issued by the concerned government body and can be obtained from offices based in Kolkata, Guwahati, Tezpur, and New Delhi. Most of the travel from the plains is on a steep hill road journey, crossing Sela Pass at 4,176 metres (13,701 ft). Tourists can travel to Tawang from Tezpur, Assam by road and Tezpur has direct flights from Kolkata. In Oct 2014, two times a week helicopter service from Guwahati was started by the Arunachal Pradesh government. For more details, click here Bibliography27.58833333333391.865277777778
30AsiaIranAbaliAbali (Persian: آبعلي‎‎, also Romanized as Ābʿalī) is a city in Rudehen District of Damavand County, Tehran Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 2,607, in 727 families.35.762551.9625
31AsiaIranAlvares
32AsiaIranChelgardChelgard (Persian: چلگرد‎‎, also Romanized as Chelgerd) is a city in and the capital of Kuhrang County, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 2,708, in 539 families.32.46666666666750.123055555556
33AsiaIranDamavandMount Damāvand (Persian: دماوند‎‎ [dæmɒːvænd] ( listen)), a potentially active volcano, is a stratovolcano which is the highest peak in Iran and the Middle East as well as the highest volcano in Asia (the Kunlun Volcanic Group in Tibet has a higher elevation than Damāvand, but are not considered to be volcanic mountains). It has a special place in Persian mythology and folklore. This peak is located in the middle of the Alborz range, adjacent to Varārū, Sesang, Gol-e Zard and Mīānrūd. The mountain is located near the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, in Amol County, Mazandaran Province, 66 kilometres (41 miles) northeast of the city of Tehran.Mount Damāvand is the 12th most prominent peak in the world, and the second most prominent in Asia after Mount Everest. It is the highest volcanic mountain in Asia, and part of the Volcanic Seven Summits mountaineering challenge. Symbolism and mythology Damavand is a significant mountain in Persian mythology. It is the symbol of Iranian resistance against despotism and foreign rule in Persian poetry and literature. In Zoroastrian texts and mythology, the three-headed dragon Aži Dahāka was chained within Mount Damāvand, there to remain until the end of the world. In a later version of the same legend, the tyrant Zahhāk was also chained in a cave somewhere in Mount Damāvand after being defeated by Kāveh and Fereydūn. Persian poet Ferdowsi depicts this event in his masterpiece, the Shahnameh:بیاورد ضحاک را چون نوند به کوه دماوند کردش ببندHe brings Zahhak, himself a mountain to the peak of Damavand and binds his neck.The mountain is said to hold magical powers in the Shahnameh. Damāvand has also been named in the Iranian legend of Arash (as recounted by Bal ami) as the location from which the hero shot his magical arrow to mark the border of Iran, during the border dispute between Iran and Turan. The famous poem Damāvand by Mohammad Taqī Bahār is also one fine example of the mountain s significance in Persian literature. The first verse of this poem reads:ای دیو سپید پای در بند Ay dīve sepīde pāī dar band, Oh white giant with feet in chains ای گنبد گیتی، ای دماوند Ay gonbade gītī, ay Damāvand Oh dome of the world, Oh Mount DamāvandMount Damavand is depicted on the reverse of the Iranian 10,000 rials banknote. Geology Mount Damavand first erupted in the Pleistocene almost 1.78 million years ago. After several known eruptions around 600,000 and 280,000 years ago, it finally erupted about 7300 years ago in the Holocene. Its steep cone is formed of ash and lava flows that are mainly made of trachyte, andesite and basalt. The Quaternary lavas are directly located on the Jurassic sediments. The volcano is crowned by a small crater with sulfuric deposits. There are also fumaroles, hot springs, and mineral deposits of travertine. Mount Damavand could be considered as a potentially active volcano, because there are fumaroles near the summit crater emitting sulfur, which were known to be active on July 6, 2007. Thermal springs Mineral hot springs are mainly located on the volcano s flanks and at the base, giving evidence of volcanic heat comparatively near the surface of the earth. While no historic eruptions have been recorded, hot springs at the base and on the flanks, and fumaroles and solfatara near the summit, indicate a hot or cooling magma body still present beneath the volcano.The most important of these hot springs are located in Abe Garm Larijan in a village by the name Larijan in the district of Larijan in Lar Valley. The water from this spring is useful in the treatment of chronic wounds and skin diseases. Near these springs there are public baths with small pools for public use. Routes to the summit The best major settlement for mountain climbers is the new Iranian Mountain Federation Camp in the village of Polour, located on the south of the mountain.There are at least 16 known routes to the summit, with varying levels of difficulty. Some of them are very dangerous and require rock climbing. The most popular route is the Southern Route which has step stamps and a camp midway called Bargah Sevom Camp/Shelter at 4220 m (about 13,845 ft). The longest route is the Northeastern and it takes two whole days to reach the summit starting from downhill village of Nāndal and a night stay at Takht-e Fereydoun (elevation 4300 m - about 13,000 ft), a two-story shelter. The western route is famous for its sunset view. Sīmorgh shelter in this route at 4100 m (about 13,500 ft) is a newly constructed shelter with two stories. There is a frozen waterfall/Icefall (Persian name Ābshār Yakhī) about 12 m tall and the elevation of 5100 m is the highest fall in Iran and Middle East. Geographical location Wildlife Fish Damavand rivers and slopes are famous for the beautiful Brown Trout (Salmo trutta), Mammals Red Sheep (Ovis orientalis) and Wild Goats (Capra aegagrus) live in the region of Damavand Mts. Persian leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor) and Syrian brown bear (Ursus arctos syriacus) live in this region. Some smaller mammals are the snow vole (Chionomys nivalis), mouse-like hamster (Calomyscus bailwardi) and Afghan pika (Ochoton rufescens). Birds The very attractive and unreachable Caspian snowcock (Tetragallus caspius) lives at high altitudes. Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) breeds in this area. Griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) are common. Chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar) has a high population and nests between stone and shrubs. Red-fronted serin (Serinus pusillus), linnet (Carduelis cannabina), snow finch (Montifringilla nivalis), rock sparrow (Petronia petronia), rock bunting (Emberiza cia) and horned lark (Eremophila alpestris) are native; in winter they come to the lower hill sides. In each spring wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), rock thrush (Monticola saxatilis), and nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) come from Africa for breeding. Grey-necked bunting (Emberiza buchanani), black-headed bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) and common rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) come from India. Reptiles and amphibians Lots of marsh frogs (Rana ridibunda) live in Lar riversides. Meadow viper (Vipera ursinii), blunt-nosed viper (Macrovipera lebetina), Iranian valley viper (Vipera latifii) and Caucasian agama (Laudakia caucasia) are among the reptiles of this mountainous region. Flora On the southern slope of Damavand, there are remnants of Wild Pistachia Trees (Pistacia atlantica) ; In its riversides different kinds of Salix trees like Willow (Salix acomphylla) and Oleaster (Elaeagnus angustifolia) are found. Greek Juniper (Juniperus excelsa) is common all over the higher altitudes. On Northern slopes, because of higher humidity, there are wild oak, beech and hazel trees like: Persian Oak (Quercus macranthera), Eastern Hornbean (Carpinus orientalis), and Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis). There are also many beautiful wild flowers like: Mountain Tulip (Tulipa montana) and Stone cress (Aethionema grandiflorum). At higher altitudes, shrubs tend to be sphere and cushion like, examples are : Astragalus species (like Astragalus microcephalus), Mountain Sainfoin (Onobrychis cornuta) and Prickly (Acantholimon erinaceum) ; Different kinds of grasses between them complete this alpine scene . Iris barnumiae subsp. demawendica (formerly Iris demawendica), is found and named after the mountain. Nomination as National Heritage Site An anthropologist of Mazandaran Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department, Touba Osanlou, has said that a proposal has been made by a group of Iranian mountaineers to register the highest peak in the Middle East, Mount Damavand as a national heritage site. Mazandaran Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department has accepted the proposal, the Persian daily Jam-e Jam reported. Osanlou noted that the Iranian Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization is presently in the process of renaming an upcoming ancient festivity after Mount Damavand. "We have proposed Tirgan Festivity, Tabari Nowruz, to be named as Damavand National Day," he added. Tirgan Festivity is held in Amol County s Rineh region in Mazandaran province.35.95555555555652.11
34AsiaIranDarbandsar
35AsiaIranDizinDizin is one of the largest Iranian ski resorts in the Alborz mountain range, near Tehran and also the city of Karaj. It was established in 1969..The ski season in Dizin lasts longer than in European ski resorts, from December to May, due to the resort s high altitude. The highest ski lift reaches 3,600 m (11,800 ft), making it one of the 40 highest ski resorts in the world.Dizin ski amenities include two hotels, 19 cottages and five restaurants, villas and private apartments around the Dizin ski resort accommodate thousands of people every year. Location The Dizin ski complex is the first ski and winter sport resort in Iran which has been officially recognized and granted the title by the International Ski Federation for its capability in administrating official and international competitions.It gained its official title for its specific physical and technical features such as the course slope, length of the course and the place where the competitions and races are to be held, as well as amenities and other recreational facilities.Dizin is situated on the mountains of Alborz and is 45 miles of Tehran and 50 miles of Karaj, Iran.The installation of ski-lifts at Dizin dates back to 1348 on the Iran calendar (which equates to 1969 on the Gregorian calendar) which include three telecabins, two ski-lifts, seven dish tele-skis and one Hammer tele-ski, the lowest point of the region is 2650m, while its highest point is 3600m (which equates to 11,811 feet above the sea level).Dizins climatological condition offers the longest ski season, which typically begins in November and runs through the end of May. Dizin ski amenities include two hotels, 19 cottages, and 5 restaurants. The ski activity in Dizin complex is not confined to only winter season. There are many other spring, summer, and fall activities.There are also other facilities such as tennis courts, mountain climbing, mountain biking. Ski instruction courses are offered. At the present, the Dizin ski region is administered by Iran ski federation.The snow quality at Dizin is fantastic powder and rivals that of many European and Rocky Mountain snow areas. Dizin is just 43 miles north of the capital city of Tehran, Iran. It was first opened under the reign of the Shah of Iran in 1969.[citation needed] Image gallery
36AsiaIranFereydunshahrFereydunshahr (Persian: فریدون‌شهر‎‎, Georgian: მარტყოფი "Martqopi") is a city in and the capital of Fereydunshahr County, about 150 kilometres west of the city of Isfahan in the western part of Isfahan Province, Iran. At the 2011 census, its population was 14,007, in 4,062 families.Fereydunshahr is situated inside the Zagros mountain range. It has one of the country s largest population of ethnic Georgians (ფერეიდნელი). People from Fereydunshahr speak a Georgian dialect along with Persian. The Georgian alphabet is also used.32.94111111111150.121111111111
37AsiaIranJabal Thalgeh
38AsiaIranKakan
39AsiaIranKhor Ski Resort
40AsiaIranKhoshaku
41AsiaIranKuhrangKoohrang also known as Kouhrang and Kurang is the name of a river, originating in the Zagros mountains of western Iran, which joins the Dez River to form the Karun, Iran s largest (by volume) river. A series of tunnels (Kuhrang Tunnels) have been built since the 1950s to redirect some of the Kuhrang s water toward the Zayandeh River to meet the demands of increased population in Esfahan and Yazd provinces.The Zayandeh River basin encompasses about 41,500 square kilometres (16,000 sq mi) and is connected to the upper Karun River basin (which drains to the Persian Gulf) by the Kuhrang Dam and Tunnel 1 (32°26′10.94″N 50°06′04.50″E / 32.4363722°N 50.1012500°E / 32.4363722; 50.1012500 (Koorang Dam and Tunnel 1)) constructed in 1953 although first proposed in the early sixteenth century. Two additional tunnels (Kurang 2 and Kurang 3) were constructed in late 1990s and early 2000s. A hydroelectric dam at Godar-e Langar (also known as Karun-4) would also supply piped water to Esfahan 300 kilometres (190 mi) away if it is completed (Whitley and Gallagher, 1995). Dams have deleterious effects on a riverine fish and other fauna and are often stocked with exotic species. The upper Karun has not been well explored for endemic taxa. Mean annual flow of the Zayandeh River is estimated at 1.2 to 1.45 cubic kilometres (970,000 to 1,180,000 acre·ft) and is used mostly for agriculture, but an increase in population and industry has necessitated dam construction (Chadegan Reservoir, capacity 1.45 cubic kilometres (0.35 cu mi)) and diversion schemes. There is also the Hana Dam on the Hana River at Semirom with a height of 35 metres (115 ft) and a capacity of 45 million cubic metres (1.6×109 cu ft). 32°08′53.96″N 50°26′07.57″E / 32.1483222°N 50.4354361°E / 32.1483222; 50.4354361 (Koohran River mouth)Coordinates: 32°08′53.96″N 50°26′07.57″E / 32.1483222°N 50.4354361°E / 32.1483222; 50.4354361 (Koohran River mouth)32.14832222222250.435436111111
42AsiaIranSahand Ski ResortCoordinates: 37°45′36″N 46°30′54″E / 37.76°N 46.515°E / 37.76; 46.515 Sahand Ski Resort is an ski resort in northern slopes of Mount Sahand, in vicinity of Tabriz, North West of Iran. The resort has an ski area with a length of 1200 meters. The ski season in this resort depends on the winter precipitation (normally starts from January and it continues until mid March).37.7646.515
43AsiaIranSepidan, Shiraz
44AsiaIranShahmirzadShahmirzad (Persian: شهميرزاد ‎‎, Native Name شامرزا) is a town located in the north of Iran, and on the southern slopes of the Alborz Mountains. Permanent population of the town was recorded as 7,273 people, 1,860 families in the 2006 census. During summer, the town s population rises to up to 40,000 people, as tourists visit the town for its fine climate and its popular gardens.Shahmirzad has been home to people of diverse ethnic backgrounds, a large group of whom seasonally settled in cities and towns of Mazandaran, such as Babol, Sari, Neka, and Behshahr. During the past decades many Muslim, Bahá í, and Shahmirzadi Jews, migrated to larger cities in Iran and abroad, most notably San Francisco Bay Area.Shahmirzadi language (شامرزایی), is a Caspian language close to Mazandarani and Gilaki.Shahmirzad s walnut orchard with the size of 700 ha is noted by the UN, Food and Agriculture Organization, as the largest of its kind in the world. Shahmirzadi homeowners are given a proprietary interest in the walnut orchard in proportion to the amount of land they own in the village. Shahmirzad also produces mineral water "Tenab Shahmirzad". Famous Shahmirzadis35.77277777777853.328611111111
45AsiaIranShandizShandiz (Persian: شانديز‎‎, also Romanized as Shāndīz; formerly, Shāhī Deh) is a city in and the capital of Shandiz District, in Torqabeh and Shandiz County, Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 6,402, in 1,706 families.36.39527777777859.296388888889
46AsiaIranShemshakShemshak (Persian: شمشک‎‎) is a city in Rudbar-e Qasran District, Shemiranat County, Tehran Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 2,383, in 702 families.The city of Shemshak was formed from the former villages of Shemshak-e Bala, Shemshak-e Pain, Darband Sar, Sefidestan, Darrud, and Jirud.35.93055555555651.526666666667
47AsiaIranTarik-darreh
48AsiaIranTochalMount Tochal (Persian: توچال‎‎, also Romanized as Tochāl) is a mountain in the Alborz range and a ski resort adjacent to metropolitan Tehran, Iran. The mountain has a 12 km long ridgeline. The highest peak, also called Mount Tochal, is at an elevation of 3,933 m (13,005 feet) and at coordinates 35°53′N 51°25′E / 35.88°N 51.42°E / 35.88; 51.42. Tochal is a popular recreational region for Tehran s residents. A gondola lift, named Tochal Telecabin, runs from Tehran to the Tochal Ski Resort and the modern Tochal Hotel, all as a part of Tochal Complex. Peaks A number of peaks are accessible from the Tochal main ridge or by their own climbing paths. Peaks (from west to east) include: Gondola lift Tochal has a long gondola lift which begins from Velenjak valley at 1900m and ends in the last station at 3740m near the main ridge of Tochal. This gondola lift is used for accessing ski resorts and other recreational centers on the mountain. The gondola lift has four stations: Location in central Alborz Pictures35.88333333333351.416666666667
49AsiaJapanEsashi Town Mikasayama Ski Area
50AsiaJapanNakatonbetsu Town Kotobuki Ski Area
51AsiaJapanSaroma Town Ski Area
52AsiaJapanSarufutsu Village Ski Area
53AsiaJapanTenpoku Ski Area
54AsiaJapanToyotomi Town Toyotomi Onsen Ski Area
55AsiaJapanWakkanai City Komadori Ski Area
56AsiaJapanAlpha Resort Tomamu
57AsiaJapanAsahi Ski Area
58AsiaJapanAsahigatake Ski Course
59AsiaJapanAsahiyama City Ski Area
60AsiaJapanBifuka Ski Area
61AsiaJapanCanmore Ski Village
62AsiaJapanDaisetsuzan Kurodake Ski Area
63AsiaJapanFurano Skiing Ground
64AsiaJapanHinode Ski Area
65AsiaJapanInosawa City Ski Area
66AsiaJapanKamui Ski Links
67AsiaJapanKenbuchi Town Bibakarasu Ski Area
68AsiaJapanMinami Furano Ski Area
69AsiaJapanNakafurano Hokusei Ski Area
70AsiaJapanNayoro Piyashiri Ski Area
71AsiaJapanOtoi Fuji Ski Area
72AsiaJapanPippu Ski Area
73AsiaJapanSanta Present Park Mallows Gelände
74AsiaJapanShibetsu City Hinata Ski Area
75AsiaJapanShirogane Ski Highland Park Hill Valley
76AsiaJapanTōma Town Ski Area
77AsiaJapanWassamu Higashiyama Ski Area
78AsiaJapanHoronobe Town Higashigaoka Ski Area
79AsiaJapanMashike Town Shokanbetsudake Ski Area
80AsiaJapanObira Town Bōyōdai Ski Area
81AsiaJapanTeshio Town Ski Area
82AsiaJapanAbashiri Lake View Ski Area
83AsiaJapanEngaru Rock Valley Ski Area
84AsiaJapanKamiyūbetsu Town Gokazan Ski Area
85AsiaJapanKitami Wakamatsu City Ski Area
86AsiaJapanKiyosato Town Midori Ski Area
87AsiaJapanMonbetsu City Ōyama Ski Area
88AsiaJapanOketo Town Minamigaoka Ski Area
89AsiaJapanOkoppe Town Ski Area
90AsiaJapanRubeshibe Town Happōdai Ski Area
91AsiaJapanSki Mebius
92AsiaJapanTakinoue Town Sakuragaoka Ski Area
93AsiaJapanKanayama Ski Area
94AsiaJapanRausu Town Ski Area
95AsiaJapanAkan Kohan Ski Area
96AsiaJapanAkan Royal Valley Ski Area
97AsiaJapanBirao Ski Area
98AsiaJapanChūrui Village Shiroganedai Ski Area
99AsiaJapanMemuro Ski Area
100AsiaJapanNisshō Ski Area