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 Temperatures never rise above freezing
and there is a fresh sprinkling of snow every day, but step outside and
you will find a sunbaked desert.
Complete with Alpine-style chalets, fir trees, chairlifts and ski runs
graded from green to black, the world’s largest indoor snow resort has
opened its doors in the Gulf emirate of Dubai.
Ski Dubai is the country’s latest extraordinary no-expense-spared project.
The emirate already has manmade islands shaped like a map of the world
and is building the world’s tallest tower. Beneath the Gulf it is building
the world’s first underwater hotel, with underwater opera.Article continues
Ski Dubai has more than 6,000 tonnes of snow. It boasts ski runs up to
400 metres long with a fall of more than 60 metres. A day pass costs 220
dirhams ($60).
Skiing in traditional Arab robes is not allowed. The snow – created by
spraying water under high pressure – is just the latest demand on scarce
water resources. Swimming pools, gardens and golf courses are others.
Whatever happened to the plan to tow icebergs from Antarctica to the Middle
East? 80% of the fresh water on the WORLD is frozen in the icecaps. They
could ski right on the iceberg en route, fly in on helicopters and start making
money before the berg even gets there! Now all we need to do is to interest
some venture capitalists…..
from the
Guardian
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