Location: 43 mi (70 km) North-west of Malarque Map
Tel. (02627) 471 100
Elevation: 3,430 m (11,253 ft)
Official site
Las Leñas is one of the largest and most famous ski resorts in the
South America. It is located 43 mi (70 km) North-west of Malarque at
a elevation of 3,430 m (11,253 ft). Las Lenas Ski Resort is an
extensive ski resort that covers a total area of 17,500 hectares
(43,000 acres). It lies at an elevation ranging from 2,240 meters
(7,350 feet) at its lowest point to 3,430 meters (11,250 feet).
There are over 40 runs of different ski level. The longest run in
Las Lenas Ski Resort measures at more than 7 km (4.3 miles).
Las Lenas Ski Resort is open during winter months that in the
Southern Hemisphere correlates between mid June and mid October.
There are plenty of tourist accommodations in the region ranging
from high priced hotels to a cheaper hostels. During summer months
Las Lenas Ski resort is open for hiking, horse riding, mountain
biking, mountain climbing as well as other activities.
The valley is high and yet forms spectacular landscapes, like those of a gigantic snowy amphitheater for much of each year, being surrounded by much higher peaks that exceed 4000 meters above sea level, in this valley the Salado de Malargüe river has its slopes. tributary by one arm of the Atuel river and by another of the endorheic basin that forms the Llancanelo lagoon. The ski center is accessed by the provincial route RP 222 after a detour of about 60 km to the west of the famous RN 40, this detour passes through sites of great scenic attraction such as the Laguna de La Niña Encantada and the Pozo de las Ánimas, Immediately to the west of Valle de Las Leñas is an even higher and less accessible valley: Valle Hermoso, where the headwaters of the Río Grande, known here as Tordillo, and the Valle Hermoso and Sosneado hot springs meet.
It has
14 lifts, which allow access to 29 ski and snowboard slopes classified
as beginners, intermediate, advanced and experts.
The ski area is
about 65 km.
It has the longest uninterrupted descent in the country,
with 7050 m connecting the Apolo, Neptune and Venus runways.
There is
a "Terrain Park" of 1500 m with jumps, cambers and rails, a place chosen
by snowboarders although it is not always possible to enable it.
Night skiing: only Eros 1 and until 7 pm its which (a total of 2 km) are
illuminated. In the last few seasons it was disabled most days.
The
base is at 2,222 meters above sea level, and the summit at 3,430 meters,
making it the highest ski resort in Argentina.
The average annual
snowfall is 15 cm at the base, 60 cm at the intermediate level and 2 m
at the top.
Snowmaking: 30 cannons along the entire mountain.2 There
is a group of riders created and raised in the valley named #TeamExtreme
Valle de Las Leñas has a program that offers safe
classes taught by highly trained teachers in adaptation techniques to
Andean Skiing.
The different techniques offered are: • Cognitive
and developmental disabilities • Three tracks • Four tracks • Mono-ski •
Bi-ski • Blind
History
In 1860, the botanist Peregrino
Strobell, on his scientific research route, arrived for the first time
at the valley located at the foot of Cerro Torrecillas; to designate a
name for it, he chose the species Adesmia pinifolia, which was named
Coli Mamul (yellow firewood).
For many years the idea of
creating a ski center remained valid, but it was not until January 20,
1983 when the project began to materialize with the help of architects
Schettini - Tornesse. After several scientific studies, it was concluded
that the area was ideal for practicing winter sports and that its
microclimate free of abundant rainfall also made it possible to develop
tourist activities during the summer and the rest of the year. Finally,
after hard work, on July 16, 1983, the Las Leñas Ski Center was
inaugurated, offering stays in three hotels capable of accommodating
four hundred people together. It currently has a hotel and gastronomic
complex that offers 3,074 beds and enjoys great international
recognition.
In its history, Las Leñas has hosted important
international competitions, as well as other ski and snowboard resorts,
it is not only limited to amateur and extreme sports. During September
16 and 22, 1990, it became the venue for the only Pan American Winter
Games held to date. It was also one of the venues for the 1990 Alpine
Ski World Cup in the women's category, on August 8 and 9, 1989, whose
competitions were held in the Downhill and Super G disciplines.
Climate
The climate is cold and precipitation is in the form of
regular and frequent snowfall, with a total annual snowfall of 3 meters,
although it only accumulates 50 cm.
Tourist information
It can
be reached by land from Buenos Aires through RN 188, from Córdoba and
Rosario through RN 40, and from Mendoza through provincial route 222.
By air through the Malargüe International Airport and the San Rafael
National Airport.
In this way, the most interesting ways to access
Las Leñas are traveling from the city of San Rafael along RN 40 until
you meet the Salado River where you take the detour to the west
following Provincial Route 222, the other access starts from the city of
Malargüe heading north along RN 40 until it turns into the
aforementioned Provincial Route 222, entering the heart of the Andean
Cordillera Real.