Kopaonik ski resort

Kopaonik ski resort or Kopaonik ski center (Serbian: Ски центар Копаоник, romanized: Ski centar Kopaonik), is a mountain resort and the largest center of winter tourism in Serbia.[1] Located on the slopes of Kopaonik Mountain, it is mainly a destination for skiing and snowboarding, but also offers various other activities like tennis. In the area, there are several hotels and hostels, cafes, bars and night clubs.

Kopaonik ski resort
Kopaonik ski resort trails
Kopaonik ski resort
Location within Serbia
LocationKopaonik Mountain
Nearest major cityBrus, Serbia
Coordinates43°16′9″N 20°49′21″E
Top elevation2,017 m (6,617 ft) (Pančić's Peak)
Base elevation1,770 m (5,810 ft)
Skiable area55 km (34 mi)
Runs25
Longest run3.5 km (2.2 mi)
Lift system28 total (8-passenger gondola (u/c), 3 high-speed 6-passenger Superchairs, 7 High-speed quad chairs, 2 double chairs, 11 Surface and 3 kid-surface)
Lift capacity32,000/hour
Snowfall160 days
SnowmakingYes
Night skiingYes
Websitewww.eng.infokop.net

History

Kopaonik ski resort was established in 1964, when the first chairlift was opened. In 1981, Kopaonik Mountain was proclaimed a national park of Serbia.[2][3] In the same year, the International Ski Federation (FIS) recognized ski resort as an international ski center.

In 1999, it was bombed several times as the Serbian Armed Forces military base is located nearby.[1]

Features

As of 2018, Kopaonik ski resort has 28 ski lifts, with 75 km (47 mi) of ski slopes for all categories. With around 55 km (34 mi) of alpine ski runs and 12 km (7 mi) of cross country runs, it is the largest ski resort in Serbia.[4][1] Among other features, it has night skiing run and artificial snow system covering most of the resort.[4]

Kopaonik has mild winters with high levels of snowfall, and on average about 200 sunny days annually with 160 days covered with snow.[5]

Kopanik ski resort is being considered as one of the best ski resorts in Eastern Europe, with outstanding beginner and lower-intermediate terrain for skiers.[6]

Festivals

There is an annual music festival "Big Snow" held from 23 to 29 March in the area of ski resort. The festival gathers international reggae, jazz and electronic music performers.[5]

The ski resort has a "Snow Park" for extreme skiers and snowboarders.[7] The park has expanses of grassland, forests composed of a variety of tree species, beauty spots, and river gorges. The snow blanket lasts a long time on this mountain and there are favorable conditions for the expansion of winter tourism there.[8]

Transportation

Kopaonik ski resort is well-connected with the main transport routes in Serbia. It is linked with the Ibar highway, It is located 127 km (79 mi) (two-hour drive) from the international airport Niš Constantine the Great Airport and 287 km (178 mi) (four-hour drive) from the Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. The recently open Morava Airport near Kraljevo is much closer to this ski resort (102 km, 63 mi, approximately, hour-and-half-drive by Ibar highway). However, it is only in its early development phase, although it is expected that this aerodrome will serve as the main hub for Kopaonik in the future.[9] Also, a public heliport is located in a military base 0.8 km (0.50 mi) north of the resort.

  • View on Pančić's Peak during winter
  • Kopaonik landscape with chairlifts
  • Kopaonik panorama
  • Kopaonik panorama
  • Hotels in Kopaonik
  • Hotel Grand Kopaonik
  • Hotels on Kopaonik
  • Hotel Nebeske Stolice
  • Ski lift station Kopaonik
  • Kopaonik ski resort walk paths
  • Snowboarding in Kopaonik

See also

References
  1. Haddad, Sam (21 November 2018). "Snowboarding in Serbia: deep powder for those without deep pockets". theguardian.com. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  2. "Kopaonik". serbia.travel. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  3. Bukvić, Dimitrije (9 July 2017). "Blago srebrne planine". politika.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  4. "Serbia's Winter Wonderland". bbc.com. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  5. "Putovanja - Destinacije - Kopaonik - skijanje i uživanje - B92 Putovanja". B92. 2011-12-03.
  6. Hardy, Peter (21 February 2017). "The 10 best ski resorts in Eastern Europe". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  7. "Turistički centar Kopaonik". Tckopaonik.com. 2011-11-30. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
  8. Stevs. "Intervju 2013/14: Generalni direktor JP "Skijališta Srbije" Dejan Ljevnaić". Kopaonik - infoKOP.
  9. Infokop: "Avionom preko 'Morave' do Kopaonika"
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