Sölden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sölden
Sölden in mid-February 2005
Coat of arms
Location in the district
Sölden Location in Austria Show map of Austria Sölden Location in Tyrol, Austria Show map of Tyrol, Austria
Country	Austria
State	Tyrol
District	Imst
Area
• Total	466.89 km2 (180.27 sq mi)
Elevation	1,368 m (4,488 ft)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	6450
Area code	05254
Vehicle registration	IM
Website	soelden.tirol.gv.at

Sölden is a mountain village in the Ötztal valley of Tyrol, Austria. It is known for its amazing ski slopes and beautiful mountain views. Many people visit Sölden each year to enjoy winter sports and the fresh mountain air.

Exploring Sölden's Geography

Sölden is a very large municipality (like a local government area) in Austria. It covers about 467 square kilometers (180 square miles). Even though its population is around 3,449 people, it can host up to 15,000 tourists at once!

Sölden is one of Austria's top tourist spots. Only Vienna and Salzburg have more visitors. Over two million people stay overnight in Sölden each year.

Mountain Heights and Villages

The main village of Sölden sits at an elevation of 1,368 meters (4,488 feet) above sea level. Higher up, you'll find the village of Hochsölden at 2,090 meters (6,857 feet). Hochsölden has many fancy hotels.

The highest mountain in the area is the Wildspitze. It stands tall at 3,768 meters (12,362 feet). This makes it the second-highest mountain in all of Austria, right after the Großglockner.

The Ötztal Glacier Road

Sölden is also home to the Ötztal Glacier Road. This road is special because it's the second highest paved road in Europe. It leads from Sölden up to the Rettenbach glacier and Tiefenbachferner glaciers. These glaciers are part of the Ötztal Alps.

Sometimes, you might see the town's name spelled "Soelden" online or on signs. This is just the English way of spelling it.

Sölden's Past: A Look at History

Sölden has a long and interesting history. People have lived in this area for thousands of years.

How Sölden Grew: Population Changes

The number of people living in Sölden has changed a lot over time. Here's how the population has grown:

Early Settlements and Famous Finds

Scientists have found old tools near Sölden. These tools show that people lived here many thousands of years ago. A very famous discovery was made near Sölden: Ötzi. He is a well-preserved mummy of a man who lived between 3400 and 3100 BC. Ötzi was found in the Ötztal Alps, close to Sölden.

The Sölden we know today started with about 20 buildings in the 13th century AD. One of these old buildings is called the Berghof. It was first mentioned in records in 1370. By 1588, it was listed as one of the original farmhouses. Today, the Berghof is a place where guests can stay.

Sölden: A Top Ski Resort

Sölden is very famous as a ski resort. It often hosts the first World Cup ski races of the season. These races usually happen in late October on the Rettenbach glacier. Both men and women compete in a giant slalom race.

For example, in October 2016, the races started at 3,040 meters (9,974 feet) high. They finished at 2,670 meters (8,760 feet). This was a drop of 370 meters (1,214 feet)!

Ski Resort Facts

Here are some cool facts about the Sölden ski resort:

• Elevation: The village of Sölden is at 1,350 meters (4,429 feet). The highest ski area reaches 3,250 meters (10,663 feet).
• Lifts: There are 33 ski lifts to take you up the mountains.
• Terrain: Sölden has 146 kilometers (91 miles) of ski slopes in total.
  • 62 kilometers (39 miles) are red slopes (medium difficulty).
  • 51 kilometers (32 miles) are blue slopes (easy).
  • 27 kilometers (17 miles) are black slopes (difficult).
  • 6 kilometers (4 miles) are special "Skiroutes" (ungroomed trails).

Images for kids

• 

  Postcard from Sölden with Berghof (about 1920)

• 

  Berghof, an original homestead

See also

In Spanish: Sölden para niños