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 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2017) |
| Portes du Soleil | |
|---|---|
 Les Crosets | |
  Portes du Soleil Location within Alps | |
| Location | France and Switzerland |
| Nearest major city | Monthey and Aigle |
| Coordinates | 46°11′37″N 6°46′24″E / 46.193676°N 6.773329°E |
| Top elevation | 2,466 m (8,091 ft) |
| Base elevation | 930 m (3,050 ft) |
| Skiable area | 1,036 km2 (400 sq mi) |
| Trails |
|
| Longest run | Rapaille - Grand Paradis (7.5km) |
| Total length | 650 km (400 mi) |
| Lift system |
|
| Terrain parks | 10 |
| Snowfall | 8.7 m (29 ft) (average 1998–2008)[2] |
| Snowmaking | 694 cannons |
| Website | www |
Les Portes du Soleil (literally "The Doors of the Sun") is a major skisports destination in the Alps, encompassing thirteen resorts between Mont Blanc in France and Lake Geneva in Switzerland. With more than 650 km of marked pistes (claimed by the lift companies; an independent expert measured about 426 km [3]) and about 200 lifts in total,[4] spread over 14 valleys and about 1,036 square kilometres (400 sq mi), Portes du Soleil ranks among the two largest ski areas in the world (the other being Les Trois Vallées). Almost all of the pistes are connected by lifts – a few marginal towns can be reached only by the free bus services in the area. The highest elevation accessible on skis is 2260 m (Pointe de Mossettes) and the lowest is 930 m (Abondance Village). As with many other Alpine ski resorts, the lower slopes of the Portes du Soleil have snow-making facilities to extend the ski season by keeping the lower slopes open during the warmer months.
The name Portes du Soleil originates from the 1,950-meter-high pass of the same name, connecting Morgins to Les Crosets.
- ^ "Le Domaine Sauvage". Portes du Soleil. Archived from the original on 1 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
- ^ "Winter 2008 press kit" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 December 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
- ^ "The world's ten biggest ski areas". Snow Magazine. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ^ "Lifts & Terrain". Powderhounds. Retrieved 7 August 2024.