Portillo, Chile facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ski Portillo Chile |
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Laguna del Inca at 2,853 m (9,360 ft)
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 Ski Portillo Chile
Location in Chile
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| Location | Andes mountains, Valparaíso Region, Chile |
| Nearest city | Los Andes |
| Coordinates | 32°50′10″S 70°07′44″W / 32.836°S 70.129°W |
| Vertical | 762 m (2,500 ft) |
| Top elevation | 3,310 m (10,860 ft) (lift) 4,222 m (13,852 ft) (summit) |
| Base elevation | 2,548 m (8,360 ft) (lift) 2,880 m (9,450 ft) (hotel) |
| Skiable area | 5.0 km2 (1,240 acres) |
| Runs | 35 |
| Longest run | 2.5 km (1.6 mi) |
| Lift system | 5 chairlifts, 9 surface lifts |
| Snowfall | 8.3 m (27 ft 3 in) |
| Snowmaking | yes |
| Night skiing | none |
| Website | skiportillo.com |
Portillo is a famous ski resort located high up in the Andes mountains of Chile, in South America. It's a great place for skiing and snowboarding!
The resort is in the Valparaíso Region. It is about 61 km (38 mi) (38 miles) from the city of Los Andes and about 160 km (100 mi) (100 miles) from Santiago, the capital city.
Portillo's hotel is very high up, at an elevation of about 2,880 m (9,450 ft) (9,449 feet) above sea level. The highest ski lift takes you up to 3,310 m (10,860 ft) (10,860 feet)! The lowest point where you can get on a lift is 2,548 m (8,360 ft) (8,360 feet). This means there's a big drop of 762 m (2,500 ft) (2,500 feet) from the top to the bottom, which is called the "vertical drop."
Portillo has 35 different ski runs and 14 lifts to take skiers up the mountain. The Purcell family owns and runs the resort.
Contents
History of Ski Portillo
Plans to build this amazing ski area started way back in the 1930s. Construction began in 1942, and the resort officially opened its doors in 1949.
In 1965, some of the ski lifts were damaged by large snow slides called avalanches. But they were quickly rebuilt! This was important because Portillo was chosen to host the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in August 1966. This was a very big event for ski racing.
During those championships, a famous skier named Jean-Claude Killy became well-known. He won gold medals in the downhill and combined events.
Since then, Portillo has become a top spot for ski racers to train. Many national ski teams, like those from Austria, Italy, and the United States, come here to practice during the northern hemisphere's summer. This is because when it's summer in the northern hemisphere, it's winter in Chile, offering perfect snow conditions!
Mountain Peaks Around Portillo
The very top of the mountain at Portillo, called Ojos de Agua, reaches 4,222 m (13,852 ft) (13,852 feet) high.
There are even taller peaks nearby! Los Tres Hermanos is about 4,751 m (15,587 ft) (15,587 feet) tall, and La Paraya is about 4,831 m (15,850 ft) (15,850 feet) tall.
The tallest mountain in the Americas, Aconcagua, is also close by. It stands at an incredible 6,961 m (22,838 ft) (22,838 feet)! This mountain is taller than any peak in Europe, Africa, or North America. Only some mountains in Asia, like the Himalayas, are higher.
Where is Portillo?
Portillo is located very close to the border between Chile and Argentina. It's near a mountain pass called Paso Los Libertadores.
Ski Season
The ski season at Portillo usually starts in the middle of June and lasts until early October. Of course, this depends on how much snow there is!
See also
In Spanish: Portillo (Chile) para niños
