The most high-altitude skating rink in the world

 

 

The “Medeo” complex is located on the border of the city of Almaty at an altitude of 1691 meters above sea level. Beautiful views of the tops of the Zailiysky Ala Tau mountains, clean air, soft sun – Almaty residents of all ages and occupations love to spend their time here. Medeo got its name in honor of a nomad who lived here at the beginning of the twentieth century and founded an aul (village) in that area.
 

The health ladder

842 legendary steps are well known to all residents of the city and its visiting guests. Not everyone can climb them “in one breath”, but the fascinating view from the dam to the skating rink, its surroundings and enchanting mountain landscapes are worth the effort.

Skating

The rink has been operating since 1972 and it hosts up to 240 thousand visitors annually. The area of the rink is 10.5 thousand square meters, so speed skating, ice hockey and figure skating competitions are often held there. On the territory of Medeo, more than 200 different records were set, and 123 of them are of world importance. The ice coating on the skating rink is 2.3 meters thick and is a special chemical compound based on pure high-mountain water without salt admixture, which allows for special skating speed and softness.

Медеу

Medeu is an alpine sports complex located in the alpine tract Medeu at an altitude of 1691 meters above sea level, near the “southern capital” of Kazakhstan – Almaty, just below the Shymbulak mountain resort.

Medeu is the world’s largest alpine complex for winter sports with the largest artificial ice field – 10.5 thousand m². Highlands and the purest mountain water for pouring ice contribute to the achievement of high results in speed skating, for all time over 200 world records were set here at all distances among men and women.
Almaty skating rink was nicknamed the “factory of records”. It is a state monument of town planning and architecture of republican significance. Initially, the construction of Medeu began in the fall of 1949.

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