The map below (found on wikipedia) shows us where the world's ski areas are concentrated. Japan, North America, and Western Europe appear to boast 90% of the world's ski resorts. USA is #1 in total ski areas, but the European Alps appear to have the most per capita. Austria has around 8 million people and several hundred ski areas!!! The map proves that there are three very important factors in determining where skiing can develop as a form of recreation. First off, there must be the right climate (and to a lesser degree the right terrain). Though the UK has a wealthy population base, it cannot compete with the poorer countries of Chile and Argentina as it simply does not have as many snowy slopes as the southern Andes. Secondly, a region with a wealthy population base will have the demand to create ski areas. For this reason, places like Tajikistan (which gets plenty of snow and even has several 20,000 foot peaks!) have very few ski areas. In fact, Tajikistan has fewer ski areas than the UK (I really didn't think anywhere in the UK got enough snow for skiing).
Skiing is an interesting sport to look at, because its distribution has answers that can be instantly seen on a map. Thats what makes thematic maps so interesting.. Simply by looking at the map above and having basic knowledge of world geography, one can determine not just where ski areas are concentrated, but also why they are there.
*The single ski area in Bolivia no longer exists because the glacier it used to be found on is nearly completed melted.
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