Only enough snow left for four weeks – ski area must close forever Iran: more than 260 arrests in 24 hours

The French ski resort of La Sambuy has stopped its activities due to a lack of snow. Jacques Dalex, the mayor of the city in the French Alps, told CNN that “global warming is clearly happening” and is “moving even faster than scientists predicted.” Therefore, all lifts have been closed forever since September 10 and the city council made a corresponding decision in June.

“We used to have snow from pretty much December 1st to March 30th,” Dalex continued. However, last year there were only four weeks where there was enough snow – and even then the blanket was very thin. According to the mayor, the ski area was in danger of losing around half a million euros per year. The maintenance of the elevators alone costs 80,000 euros annually.

All in all it is a small ski area with four lifts and several slopes up to an altitude of 1,850 meters. However, the area was especially popular with families because of its cheap ski passes. Dalex hopes they can continue to attract visitors. In summer there are also many hikers.

Due to the effects of climate change, there are fears that more ski areas in Europe will close their doors forever in the future. According to a study published in August in the journal Nature Climate Change, 53 percent of Europe’s 2,234 ski resorts are at high risk of running out of snow if global warming increases by two degrees compared to pre-industrial times. A study published in January in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences assumes that the threshold is likely to be exceeded by 2050. (pre/t online)