NEWRY, Maine — Maine’s “Most Beautiful Mountain Village” of Bethel has embarked on a project to build the world’s tallest snowwoman during the month of February. Sunday River snowmaking equipment and staff has supplied much of the 12 million pounds of snow needed for construction. The Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce is leading the effort.

The town holds the record for the world’s tallest snowman at 113′ 7″ tall. The snowman was built in 1999 and named after Governor Angus King. The yet to be named snowwoman is expected to top out at an estimated 120 feet.

“We used some of our new Boyne Low Energy fan guns to manufacture much of the snow for the project,” said Bill Brown, lead snowmaking consultant on the Bethel snowwoman project. “The timing of the project was great since we recently received a shipment of 15 of the new fan guns. Making the snow for the snowwoman project allowed us to gain valuable experience with this new technology, which we will be using more of in the coming years.”

Boyne Low Energy fan guns are able to make snow using less compressed air than traditional equipment and are more effective at higher temperatures.

The base of the snowwoman has already taking shape thanks to the snowmaking and above average snowfall, which has totaled 123″ to date at Sunday River.

The snowwoman design will be incorporating numerous aesthetic touches to convey the gender of the snow sculpture including torso shape, red lips, eyelashes and the world’s largest Maine mica pendant. Building progress and snowwoman information including a live web cam is available at www.bethelmainesnowwoman.com. Potential volunteers are urged to contact the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce.

Over $1 million was invested in snowmaking upgrades at Sunday River heading into the 2007-2008 winter season including 15 new Boyne Low Energy fan guns. Additional fan guns are anticipated in the coming years to continue to reduce the amount of energy required to make snow.