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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Morning :

T° Min : 2°C T° Max : 7°C Afternoon :

T° Min : 3°C T° Max : 12°C > Forecast for 3 days

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Artificial snow

In Tignes, 352 snowguns are kept running to produce artificial snow throughout the autumn. Specialized technicians called snowmakers are responsible for operating and monitoring this machinery. With an arsenal of snowguns, there’s never a shortage of snow on the slopes.

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Artificial snow

Snowmaking in Tignes

Tignes operates 352 snowguns dispersed over the entire skiable area: from the top of Double M run to Les Brevieres and Toviere summit. Thanks to their continued operation, you can ski from one mountain to another.

Artificial snow is a complex mixture of water and air. In Tignes, the snow is “man-made”, which is different from artificial snow : man-made snow is a mixture of compressed air and water, which is mixed as it leaves the snow-cannon creating ice crystal upon which a snow-flake form as it falls to the ground : (artificial snow is a pre-determined “fake” snow crystal).

A granule of snow-covered ice forms in the snowgun nozzle before being forced through by pressurized air. To produce artificial snow, weather conditions are paramount:

· Temperature below -3° C

· Low humidity

· Minimal wind

Where does the water come from ?
Here in Tignes, the water is taken directly from the natural lake at 2100 meters. No chemicals are added.

Snowmaking professionals

Snowmakers are responsiblefor operating and maintaining the snowguns. As of the Christmas holiday period, snowmakers work primarily at night. The snowmakers can therefore take action should a nighttime incident take place. A remote surveillance system enables them to control the production system using an internet connection.