Ruka ski area in Lapland, Finland which claims to have the longest ski season of any non-glacier ski area will close its slopes today for winter 2016-17.
But it has already decided it will re-open in just under 5 months time on October 6th and to help be sure of that it has stock-piled huge amounts of snow to spread on the slopes for the start of next winter, as pictured above this morning.
The longest season claim may be under threat as several US resorts may be open longer. Arapahoe Basin is operating from late October 2016 to at least June 4th this year and Mammoth Mountain from early November to at least July 4th. Squaw Valley has announced it plans to operated weekends in June and July 4th then on Saturdays through to the start of next season.
Ruka formerly used to stay open for nearly 8 months to the start of June.
Other ski areas closing today include Tignes in France, the last still-operating area in the country for the 16-17 season. Val Senales in Italy will also close leaving only a couple of black runs open on the Presena Glacier in Italy. Loveland in Colorado is also due to close leaving only Arapahoe Basin open the famous ski state and Glacier 3000 near Gstaad also ends its season.