(Riksgransen's staff prepare the slopes for re-opening)
Riksgransen, Europe's most northerly ski area, set high within the Swedish arctic circle, has opened for its 2016 ski season this morning (February 19th).
The centre, which does not open until the second half of February because it is too cold and too dark at its latitude until now, reports a 120cm base, temperatures of -11C and that it's snowing.
The resort will be open for the next four months, with skiing under the midnight sun possible from early May. It does close for a period from late May to mid-June before re-opening for a final Midsummers Day weekend of on snow festivities around June 21st when it is normally booked out far in advance.
Normally empty apart from caretaker staff through mid-winter, this winter Riksgransen hit the headlines as around 600 mostly Syrian refugees were housed there during its closed period. The Swedish government said the centre could be kept warm and cosy although some media reports said refugees were unhappy to be 'marooned' in this isolated spot with near 24 hour darkness outside.
At the time – in late autumn last year – it was reported that although most refugees would be moved on before Riksgransen's ski season started, management hoped some would find employment at the centre.