Chacaltaya Glacier's Melt Symbolizes Climate Change Impact on Tourism
TL;DR
- The 18,000-year-old Chacaltaya glacier's disappearance by 2009, driven by global warming, eliminated the ski resort's primary attraction and impacted local water and hydroelectric power.
- Chacaltaya's status as the world's highest ski resort, with its restaurant holding a Guinness World Record, highlights its historical significance and unique environmental challenges.
- The abandonment of Chacaltaya ski resort, due to the loss of snow, demonstrates how climate change can rapidly transform once-thriving tourist destinations into ghost towns.
- Don Samuel and his brother Adolfo's continued role as caretakers of the abandoned Chacaltaya resort underscores a deep personal connection to the mountain, even without its former function.
- The altitude sickness experienced by visitors to Chacaltaya, and the use of coca tea for relief, illustrates the extreme environmental conditions of the high-altitude location.
Deep Dive
Mount Chacaltaya, once the world's highest ski resort, now stands as a poignant symbol of climate change's impact on natural resources and local communities. While the resort's physical infrastructure crumbles, its former caretakers, brothers Don Samuel and Don Adolfo Mendoza, continue their devoted stewardship, highlighting the profound personal and societal connections to a landscape transformed by environmental shifts. This enduring commitment underscores the intangible value of place and memory, even as tangible assets like glaciers vanish.
The decline of Chacaltaya illustrates a direct causal chain driven by global warming. An 18,000-year-old glacier, the resort's primary attraction, melted entirely by 2009, significantly earlier than predicted. This loss of snow directly eliminated the possibility of skiing, leading to the abandonment of the resort and the cessation of tourism. The implications extend beyond recreation; the glacier's disappearance also impacted local water supplies for communities in El Alto and La Paz, and affected hydroelectric power generation, demonstrating a broader systemic disruption. The brothers' decision to remain as caretakers, despite the lack of snow and fading infrastructure, speaks to a deep-seated connection to the mountain. Their dedication provides a sense of continuity and preserves the site's history, offering visitors a connection to its past grandeur and the natural beauty that remains, even without snow. This maintenance, though symbolic in the absence of skiing, serves to honor the mountain and the life it once supported, illustrating how human stewardship can persist beyond economic viability.
The story of Chacaltaya serves as a stark reminder that environmental changes have cascading effects, impacting not only natural landscapes but also the livelihoods and identities of those connected to them. The brothers' continued presence highlights the human element in environmental narratives, showcasing resilience and attachment in the face of profound loss. Their role as custodians of an abandoned resort underscores the enduring power of place and memory, even when the original purpose of that place is rendered obsolete by natural forces.
Action Items
- Audit 18,000-year-old glacier melt: Analyze 3 contributing factors to accelerated glacial retreat (ref: global warming predictions) to inform future climate impact assessments.
- Create caretaker training module: Define 5 key responsibilities for maintaining abandoned sites, focusing on preservation and visitor safety (ref: Chacaltaya caretakers).
- Measure impact of altitude sickness: Track 3-5 common symptoms and mitigation strategies (ref: coca tea) for high-altitude visitor preparedness.
- Evaluate historical ski resort viability: Analyze 2-3 economic factors that led to Chacaltaya's abandonment to inform future infrastructure development in similar environments.
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View Episode Notes →Key Quotes
"I was nine years old when my grandmother showed me a picture in a magazine. It was a picture of a man skiing down a beautiful snowy mountain. So I asked my grandmother where is this and she said up north. So I asked my grandmother where was this and she said up north in Chacaltaya and I said I want to be a skier like this mountain."
Don Samuel Mendoza describes his childhood fascination with a magazine photo of a skier on Mount Chacaltaya. This quote highlights the profound impact visual inspiration can have, shaping a young boy's lifelong dream and connection to the mountain. It sets the stage for his eventual career and enduring relationship with the resort.
"For a long time Mount Chacaltaya was basically the Aspen of Bolivia. Mount Chacaltaya was covered in an 18,000-year-old glacier. Skiers came from all over the world to race down the slopes and the local Bolivian skiers flocked there too."
The narrator explains the historical significance and global appeal of Mount Chacaltaya. This quote establishes the resort's former status as a premier skiing destination, comparable to famous international locations. It underscores the importance of the glacier to its identity and its role in attracting diverse visitors.
"In terms of altitude it was the highest ski resort in the world at over 17,000 feet above sea level. In fact at one point the resort's restaurant was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the highest restaurant in the world."
This quote details the extreme elevation of the Chacaltaya ski resort. The narrator points out its distinction as the world's highest ski resort and its restaurant's record-holding status. This emphasizes the unique environmental conditions and the resort's claim to global fame based on its physical location.
"But then that 18,000-year-old glacier started to melt. There was a laboratory on Mount Chacaltaya and in the 1990s scientists there predicted that the glacier would be gone by 2015. But to their surprise global warming moved a bit faster than expected by 2009 the glacier was completely gone."
The narrator explains the rapid disappearance of the glacier due to climate change. This quote contrasts scientific predictions with the accelerated reality of global warming's impact on Chacaltaya. It highlights the environmental crisis that led to the resort's abandonment and the loss of its defining feature.
"In the city there is a lot of stress so much noise a lot of motion but up in the mountains there is little movement here we stay calm."
Don Samuel's brother, Adolfo, contrasts the urban environment with the tranquility of the mountains. Adolfo explains that the mountain offers a peaceful escape from the chaos of city life. This quote reveals his personal reasons for remaining as a caretaker, valuing the calm and serenity of Chacaltaya.
Resources
External Resources
Books
- "The Guinness Book of World Records" - Referenced for recognizing the resort's restaurant as the highest in the world.
People
- Don Samuel Mendoza - Caretaker of the abandoned Chacaltaya ski resort, former ski instructor and guide.
- Adolfo Mendoza - Brother of Don Samuel, also a caretaker of the Chacaltaya ski resort.
- Raul Ptasznski - Polish skier who established the Chacaltaya ski resort in 1939.
- Nick Ortiz - Read translations for the episode.
Organizations & Institutions
- Chacaltaya - Former world-famous ski resort in Bolivia.
- Atlas Obscura Podcast - The podcast producing this episode.
- Witness Docs - Co-producer of the podcast.
- Stitcher - Distributor of Witness Docs podcasts.
- Goldman Sachs Bank USA - Issuer of Apple Card.
- The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas - Luxury resort destination mentioned as a sponsor.
- Mazda - Automotive company whose CX-50 crossover SUV is mentioned as a sponsor.
- Mazda USA - Website for building a Mazda CX-50.
- Pandora - Music streaming service mentioned as a sponsor.
- Michaels - Retail store with a new knit and sew shop, mentioned as a sponsor.
- Singer - Brand of sewing machines.
- Brother - Brand of sewing machines.
- Pfaff - Brand of sewing machines.
- Big Twist - Yarn brand available at Michaels.
- Karen Cakes - Yarn brand available at Michaels.
- Bernat - Yarn brand available at Michaels.
Websites & Online Resources
- applecard.com - Website for Apple Card terms and conditions.
- cosmopolitanlasvegas.com - Website to book a stay at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
- mazdausa.com - Website for building a Mazda CX-50.
Other Resources
- Coca Tea - Beverage used to help with altitude sickness.
- Global Warming - Factor contributing to the melting of the Chacaltaya glacier.