Where in the World Are All the Ski Resorts?

There are over 6,000 ski resorts in the world. Some skiers and snowboarders have been all over the world to explore them; however, many have only visited a few. This map visually represents where all the resorts are in the world. Take a look.

• Related: The 13 Largest Ski Resorts on Earth

Some Observations

There is a ski resort on every continent except Antarctica. As expected, most ski resorts are in developed countries. They are naturally geographically located either further up in the northern hemisphere or further down in the southern hemisphere to take advantage of colder temperatures. But not all.

Africa has a few areas both in the far north and south. There was a ski area near the equator in Bolivia, but it appears the glaciers on the almost 18,000-foot peak are no longer there, and skiing is defunct.

• Related: The World’s Highest Elevation Ski Resort = Chacaltaya, Bolivia @ 17,785-Feet | Closed Due to “Unprecedented” Glacial Retreat

Overall, most of the planet does not have close-by ski areas. Although there is snow in many places, people can still ski in other ways outside of a resort.

Large clusters

Some areas have high concentrations of resorts. They include:

• Europe
• Japan 
• Northeast United States

Moderate clusters

These areas have many resorts, just spread out a bit more. They include:

• Western and the Midwest United States
• Western and Southeastern Canada
• Andes region of South America
• Norway and Sweden
• New Zealand

The extremes of ski resorts

• The most northern ski resort is Tromsø Alpinpark, Norway.
• The most southern ski resort is Centro de Actividades Invernales Ushuaia Blanca, Argentina.
• The biggest ski resort is Les 3 Valles in France. 25,916 acres
• The smallest ski resort is Sawkill Family Ski Center in New York. Acreage unknown. Vertical rise: 70 feet.

Zoom out far enough and the ski world starts to look both massive and surprisingly small. From the sprawling terrain of Les 3 Vallées to tiny local hills tucked into small towns, these resorts trace where geography, climate, and culture all line up. Most of the planet may never have a chairlift, but that’s part of what makes the places that do feel special. Whether you’re chasing powder in Japan, lapping a local hill, or dreaming about the next trip, this map is a reminder that skiing connects a wide range of landscapes into one shared experience.