Sälen | Sweden

This postcard shows a skier at Sälen, locality situated in Malung-Sälen Municipality, Dalarna County, Sweden with 652 inhabitants in 2010.

Despite its small population, Sälen receives many tourists every winter. Sälen is best known for hosting the start of Vasaloppet, the oldest (since 1922), longest (90 km), and largest cross country ski race in the world, with over 15,000 participants in the main race alone. It is also known for its many alpine ski resorts, of which there are seven. The oldest resort in Sälen is Högfjällshotellet which was built in 1937 remains popular for recreation, cross country skiing and downhill skiing. Newer resorts with steeper mountains are Hundfjället and Granfjället. Other resorts are Stöten, Lindvallen, Näsfjället, Tandådalen, and Kläppen. Today Lindvallen, Högfjället, Tandådalen and Hundfjället are operated by the Skistar company. Lindvallen and Högfjället are connected with ski lifts, as is Tandådalen with Hundfjället The vertical height is up to 350 m. Most visitors are Swedish families with children; as such there is little in the way of nightlife, no central square or plaza, and accommodations are decentralized.

It was posted on 6 April 1982 [if I can read the stamp correctly] from Örsundsbro. It reads: 'Hello!! It's wonderful here. The sun is shining and it's not very cold. We are skiing every day. This is in the north of Sweden called Sälen. I have seen a lot of handsome boys. A letter will come later. With love Hanna'.