Chamonix

Chamonix

1. North-west of Alps

2. 15km from Swiss/Italian border

3. Centre for tourism - 250 years

   • Tourist spend money = increasing economy
     • Before - lower slopes used for farming
     • hotels/restaurants/resort shops
     • Extra income (tax) - local people
       • public transport/health care
   • High demand for services in Summer without snow
     • walkers/sight seers
   • Employment - young residents = don't need to migrate to urban areas after education
     • engineers - needed to ensure equipment like ski-lifts work
   • Tourist-oriented shops = too expensive for residents
     • expensive houses - some second homes for wealthy visitors
   • Decline in local crafts/skills
   • Large amounts of water/energy to keep Alpine resorts running/artificial snow
     • millions of gallons of water = maintain icy surface for Olympic Bobsleigh run in La Plagne
   • Cleared forests for tourist accomodation/ski slope = soil erosion/changes in water cycle
   • Vegetation damaged by skiing = scars of bare earth in summer = ruins landscape for tourists
     • Eroded mountain footpaths from walking/mountain biking
   • Building of access roads/infrastructure destroys Alpine vegetation
     • Pollution from vehicles trapped in Alpine valleys affecting villages/damaging trees
   • Noise/Congestion - jammed narrow roads
   • Conflicts between tourists/ residents
     • dropping litter harms their animals
   • Managing Tourism
     • Belle Plagne
       • New buildings = natural materials e.g. wood
         • Traditional styles = attract visitors
       • Underground parking = traffic-free -- ski to door
       • Located above tree-line = no need to cut trees for ski runs
         • Tree-line = height at which most trees grow
       • Avalanche fences = protect lives/buildings
       • La Plagne = part of Vanoise National Park - promotes conservation
     • Free public transport
     • Espace-Mont-Blanc – joint project between France, Italy, Switzerland
     • Local farming encouraged
     • Education about glacier & environment

4. Pistes - flattened snow

   • dangerous

5. Montenvers railway - takes visitors to Mer de Glace

6. Population = 10 000

   • Summer = 100 000
     • rock climbing
     • rafting
     • bike tracks
   • Winter = 60 000