[21 Aug 2006]

The largest indoor ski-centre in the world has been proposed for a site in the central Aegean region of Afyon in Turkey.

According to reports in the Anatolian media the new ski-centre is to be called Snow Valley and will cost an estimated $400 million to construct.

The new centre will reportedly be over one million square metres in size, incorporating a massive hotel with 4,000 beds, a sports complex, an artificially created lake and a ski training school.

However, few details regarding the scheme have been released, creating some considerable confusion as precisely what the new centre will be.

It has not been determined whether it will be an artificial surface slope or indoor snow, although its claim to be "similar to projects in the UK and Dubai" would suggest that it will be an indoor snow slope.

The claim that it will be the world's largest has also created some confusion, as the provincial government said "at present the world's largest Snow Valley, located in the USA with an elevation of 142m".

However, at present there are no indoor snow or large artificial ski surfaces in the US, suggesting the claim may relate to un-started projects in the US.

Afyon's regional government deputy, Mr Acba, meanwhile, said that the new complex would be constructed on land owned by Turkish state railways and would be targeted at international tourists.