Chacaltaya

Look at the Chacaltaya

Summit view

The Chacaltaya is a mountain in the Bolivian Cordillera Real with two peaks ( mountain station of the former ski lift 5,395 meters, neighboring peaks 5,421 meters above sea level).

Geography

The Chacaltaya is located between the peaks of Huayna Potosi on one side and the Illimani on the other side. These two mountains, numerous other peaks, in good weather, Lake Titicaca, and the approximately 30 km away, La Paz and El Alto are its peaks from seeing.

Observatory

At 5,220 meters above sea level, the Bolivian Universidad Mayor San Andrés ( umsa ) operates in cooperation with other universities an observatory, which is known for its gamma astronomical observations.

Tourism

The mountain is navigable up to an altitude of 5,200 meters, organized excursions are available from La Paz. At the end of the road there is a hut in the Austrian Alpine Association, which however is now operated by Club Andino Boliviano lack Skigästen.

The Chacaltaya is regarded as the highest ski area in the world, but the glacier has shrunk in recent years and completely disappeared in 2009, so no more skiing takes place. There is a dirt road and the remains of a drag lift. Also, the summit can be climbed easily.