Chacaltaya

[5] The final meltdown after 1980, due to missing precipitation and the warm phase of El Niño, resulted in the glacier's disappearance in 2009.

The rope tow, the first in South America, was built in 1939 using an automobile engine; it was housed in the site's original clapboard lodge, and is now inoperable.

Traditionally, due to the extreme cold weather, the lift operated exclusively on weekends from November to March.

The Chacaltaya (Astrophysical) Observatory belongs to the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés and it is operated in collaboration with other universities worldwide.

It hosts a cosmic ray research group, and since 2011 the Chacaltaya Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) station.

Enhanced image of Chacaltaya ski resort, November 2007
View of Chacaltaya glacier, May 2005
The automatic weather station located in the northwestern ridge of Mount Chacaltaya, Bolivia. It is one of the highest in the country, located at 5380 m above sea level. Until 1952 the station belonged to the Bolivia's National Meteorological Service but since that date it belongs to the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés.
Chacaltaya Observatory, March 2011