Levi, Finland

Levi Skiresort

Levi Black World Cup piste in summer

Levi, located in Finnish Lapland, is the largest ski resort in Finland. The resort is located in Kittilä municipality and is served by Kittilä Airport and Kolari train station. At a latitude of 67.8° north, it is located approximately 130 km (81 mi) north of the Arctic Circle.

The Levi fell is at an elevation of 531 metres (1742 ft) above sea level. There are 48 ski slopes (15 of which are floodlit) and 28 ski lifts in Levi. Ascending the fell are 2 gondolas, 1 chairlift, 14 T-bar lifts, 6 stick lifts for children and 4 rope tows for children. Levi is one of two locations of gondola lifts in Finland, and has been chosen the best domestic skiing resort in Finland four times^{[citation needed]}.

Levi is an early stop on the Alpine Skiing World Cup circuit, hosting slaloms in mid-November; in 2010 the races were held November 13–14. The climate is somewhat too cold to host them in January-February.

The slopes in Levi are mostly suitable for beginners or intermediates, but there are also four black slopes for experts. The highest vertical drop is 325 metres (1,066 ft.) and the longest slope is 2.5 km (1.6 mi) in length. The longest ski lift is about 1,636 meters (1.01 miles) long. Levi has one superpipe, one halfpipe, two snow parks, 10 children's slopes and seven slope restaurants.

Slope restaurant Tuikku

The skiing and snowboarding season in Levi is extended, often lasting up to eight months, from mid-October to early June. The ski school provides instruction in downhill skiing, snowboarding, telemark skiing and cross-country skiing. Cross-country skiers have illuminated ski tracks and snow that lingers well into the spring. There are 230 kilometres of cross-country skiing tracks and 750 kilometres of snowmobiling tracks in Levi.

The resort's location in the Arctic Circle pretty much guarantees generous snow cover and sub zero temperatures throughout winter. It also allows for good chances of seeing the Northern Lights.

Typical accommodation house in Levi

Near the ski resort of Levi is the Snow Village Lainio, where it is possible to see snow buildings. An addition for season 2010-11 is the ICIUM - Wonderworld of Ice built near the Gondola ski lift.

External links

Media related to Levi, Finland at Wikimedia Commons

• Levi.fi - official site
• Levi Finland - More detailed information on the resort including summer activities
• Snow Village.fi - Lainio Snow Village
• Kittilä Journal.com - a Texan in Lapland - Personal journal of winter holidays in Levi and surrounding area. Lots of photos. Gallery of arctic light.
• Levi Finland - Airlines and Destinations visits Levi Finland