Snowy Mountains, Mountain range in New South Wales, Australia
The Snowy Mountains are a mountain range in New South Wales and contain the five highest peaks on mainland Australia, with Mount Kosciuszko reaching 2228 meters. The range extends across a wide area of alpine landscapes, grasslands above the tree line, and deep valleys where rivers flow toward the coast and inland.
European explorers first reached these mountains in 1835, followed by Edmund Strzelecki's ascent of Mount Kosciuszko in 1840. Gold miners later arrived in the valleys before the hydroelectric project beginning in 1949 fundamentally changed the landscape and use of the region.
The Kosciuszko Huts Association maintains numerous mountain shelters that reflect the heritage of early cattle graziers in the region. Walkers and skiers use these huts today as rest stops and emergency shelters during their journeys through the mountains.
The Alpine Way and Snowy Mountains Highway provide vehicle access, with winter equipment required for snow conditions from May to October. Visitors should plan for weather changes, as temperatures can drop quickly and fog may reduce visibility at higher elevations.
The hydroelectric project that began in 1949 transformed this region into the largest ski destination in the Southern Hemisphere. The dams and canals of the system now sit amid ski slopes and walking trails, so that technical infrastructure and recreational use exist side by side.
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