The German Ski Hill Made From 35-Million Tons Of Mining Waste

Matt Lorelli
·1 min read

When you think of skiing in Europe, a few countries immediately come to mind: Austria, France, Italy, and Switzerland to name a few.

Germany has its fair share of traditional snowy ski resorts, but one resort in Bavaria sets it apart from the rest- Monte Kaolino.

The mountain is made of 35 million tons of sand that was leftover waste from a nearby mine. Rather than trucking the waste away, a 1960s businessman turned the slope into a ski hill.

Check out the video by YouTube legend Tom Scott below:

Tom Scott: "Monte Kaolino, in Bavaria, Germany, is 35 million tonnes of quartz sand, piled up over the years from a nearby kaolin mine. In the 1960s, one guy just turned up with skis, and now half a century later it's a theme-park destination for sandboarders and skiers"

Fascinating, but decidedly un-German, don't you think? I could see a wacky Midwestern American trying this as a business venture, but I didn't peg the country of stoicism and practicality to produce something so obscure.

Tom Scott's video does a fantastic job explaining the history of the resort, but it's missing a fairly-large element- skiing!

Check out the video below of skiers participating in a legitimate slalom race on the slopes of Monte Kaolino:

You don't need me to tell you that sand is slower than snow, but that looks like fun, no?

Even if for just a couple of laps, there's something very appealing about sliding downhill in the middle of summer in shorts and t-shirts on a sand hill in the middle of Germany.

Add it to the bucket list.

Monte Kaolino Stats/Info:

Made From: Sand, by-product of kaolinite mine

Vertical: ~400 ft.

Runs: 3

Lifts: 1

Weight: 35-million tons

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