Tsakhkadzor ski resort
Encyclopedia
The Tsakhkadzor Ski Resort is located just above the Armenian town of Tsakhkadzor
Tsakhkadzor
Tsaghkadzor is a spa town and a popular health resort in Armenia located north of Hrazdan in the Kotayk Province . The population of 1,600 in 2009, is a decrease of more than half of the 3,400 reported in the 1989 census....

 approximately 60 km from Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...

’s capital Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...

 and the Zvartnots Airport.

Tsakhkadzor facts and history

The town of Tsakhkadzor
Tsakhkadzor
Tsaghkadzor is a spa town and a popular health resort in Armenia located north of Hrazdan in the Kotayk Province . The population of 1,600 in 2009, is a decrease of more than half of the 3,400 reported in the 1989 census....

 is located at 1750m above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...

 on the southeast slope of mount Teghenis. During Soviet times, the lifts and other sporting facilities were built to prepare Soviet athletes for the 1988 Winter Olympics
1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...

. The town was further developed into a ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...

 and later fully modernized with the old lifts being replaced. In addition to the ski resort, the town is also known for the Kecharis Monastery
Kecharis Monastery
Kecharis is a 11-13th-century monastery, located 60 km from Yerevan, in the ski resort town of Tsakhkadzor in Armenia. Nestled in the Bambak mountains, Kecharis was founded by a Pahlavuni prince in the 11th century, and construction continued until the middle of the 13th century...

.

The lifts

All lifts are manufactured and operated by Leitner Group
Leitner Group
Leitner Group is an Italian conglomerate, based in the province of South Tyrol, that owns and runs several industrial and equipment companies....

. The current structure replaced existing soviet era lifts, mostly following their path. There were initially three consecutive lifts stretching from the foot of the mountain (1969m above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...

) up till the mountain peak (2819m), with the first and second lifts ending at 2234m and 2465m above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...

 respectively. In 2006 a fourth lift was added, stretching from the end of the first stage towards an opposite hilltop, thus adding two trails, both leading down to the foot of the slopes.

The first stage of the lifts is a four seater and all the others are double seater chairlifts equipped with magic carpet
Magic carpet (ski lift)
A magic carpet is a type of surface lift installed at ski areas to transport skiers and snowboarders up the hill...

 boarding systems.

Infrastructure and services

Apart from the lifts the resort offers ski
Ski
A ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes...

 and snowboard
Snowboard
Snowboards are boards, usually with a width the length of one's foot, with the ability to glide on snow. Snowboards are differentiated from monoskis by the stance of the user...

 rental as well as skiing instructors.

There are three cafés located at the foot of the mount and at the end of the first and second lifts.

Skiing season

The skiing season in Tsakhkadzor
Tsakhkadzor
Tsaghkadzor is a spa town and a popular health resort in Armenia located north of Hrazdan in the Kotayk Province . The population of 1,600 in 2009, is a decrease of more than half of the 3,400 reported in the 1989 census....

normally starts mid December and stretches well into March with the top slopes often fit for skiing in April.

External links

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