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Read our Privacy and Cookie Policies to find out more. 1. Travel 2. Skiing The world's weirdest ski slopes, from a power plant in Copenhagen to a Hawaiian mountain As Copenhagen prepares to open a ski slope on the roof of a power plant next year, we bring you the most unusual places to find powder Clare Vooght Friday 18 November 2016 14:00 BST IFRAME: https://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=https3A2F2Fwww.facebo ok.com2FTheIndependentTravel2Fwidth=450layout=buttonaction=likesi ze=largeshowfaces=falseshare=falseheight=35appId=235586169789578 Click to follow The Independent Travel copenhagen-power-plant-skiing.jpg The new Copenhagen power plant will have ski runs on its roof Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG architects) Everyone knows there's good snow at big ski areas like Whistler and the Swiss Alps. But did you know it'll soon be possible to ski down a power plant in Copenhagen, or even in hotspot Hawaii? Here are the slopes that will give you bonus social media show-off points. On a power plant in Copenhagen, Denmark In a move that makes total sense for the country we have to thank for ace ideas like Lego, innovative Danish architects Bjarke Ingels Group are making the concept of a power plant a lot more fun. A 440-metre slope – due to open next year on the slanted roof of what will be the world's greenest power plant, designed to turn waste into energy – will cater for skiers at four different levels, and includes a 45 180-metre black run. You'll reach the slopes via a lift on the inside of the plant, and it should be well worth having a nosey while you're there – the plant has been designed to burn 400,000 tons of waste every year, converting it into enough clean energy to power 60,000 homes. (big.dk) On lava in Mount Etna, Sicily Skiing on an active volcano in winter is daring enough, but tackling Mount Etna's slopes in summer gives a whole new meaning to the term "black run". There isn't much snow in the warmer season, so thrillseeking skiers whoosh down charcoal-coloured solidified lava that's been left over from past eruptions instead. We should probably add that Etna still erupts 1.7 times a year on average. (sicilytravel.net) handout.jpg Visitors will take a lift to the top of a power plant in Copenhagen and then ski back down (Bjarke Ingels Group) On a tropical island, Hawaii More traditionally known for beaches, surfing and, er, a love of Spam, Hawaii gets top marks for being the most unlikely place to take a pair of skis. Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano, gets decent enough snowfall in January and February for skiing. There are no resort facilities or lifts, so you have to make your way up in a 4x4. But where else can you be gunning down the powder towards après-ski sundowners on a tropical beach? (hawaiiinfoguide.com) [nordic-skiing-main.jpg] Read more A Scandi-trend too far? After hygge, now skiing with a baby In sub-Saharan Africa, Lesotho Yes, you can ski in sub-Saharan Africa – in Lesotho, a land-locked country enveloped by South Africa. It's perfect for skiing, altitude-wise: the entirety of this mountain kingdom lies above 1,000km. Its resort Afri-Ski is 3,322km up in the spectacular Maluti Mountains, which get snow from June to August. The less skilled can even go "bum boarding". How about planning a safari-ski combo trip? There aren't many places you can do that. (afriski.net) lesotho-ski.jpg Skiing in Lesotho, Africa (Bergenseren/ Flickr) In the middle of the Dubai desert, UAE Much more glam than the fake slopes in Milton Keynes, Ski Dubai is home to both baby slopes and the world's first indoor black diamond run, all part of 22,500 square metres of faux-piste. The temperature is turned way down – to -4 degrees celsius – creating the perfect environment for drinking your hot chocolate, and there is colony of real penguins here, too. And when it's all over you can thaw out again in 40 degrees celsius outside. (skidxb.com) Click here to view our latest travel offers with Independent Holidays More about: Ski Snow Copenhagen Travel Lesotho Africa Italy Sicily [reuse.png] Reuse content Comments [i100.png] Most Popular Video Sponsored Features Follow us: User Policies Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Code of Conduct Complaint Form Contact Us Contributors All Topics Archive Newsletters Jobs Subscriptions Advertising Guide Syndication Evening Standard Novaya Gazeta Install our Apps (Submit) Close We've noticed that you are using an ad blocker. Advertising helps fund our journalism and keep it truly independent. It helps to build our international editorial team, from war correspondents to investigative reporters, commentators to critics. Click here to view instructions on how to disable your ad blocker, and help us to keep providing you with free-thinking journalism - for free. Thank you for your support. 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