Serra snow bonanza

The 46 snow cannons recently inaugurated on the Serra da Estrela have already produced 31,000 cubic metres of snow after only 242 hours of production. The figures, released by Serra da Estrela Tourism (RTSE), relate to the period since the Torre ski resort re-opened on December 12 after major renovations. “We want our skiing season to last 100 days instead of the previous annual average of between 30 and 35 days,” said Jorge Patrão, president of RTSE. Since re-opening, the ski slopes have been closed for only two days, owing to unfavourable weather conditions, and the artificial slopes have already carried more than 50,000 people. “These first numbers are proof that the revamping of the resort was necessary and confirm that, in Portugal, it is possible to make artificial snow using cannons, as is in the Alps or Pyrenees,” said Sr Patrão.