Medeu Alpine Skating Rink – Visit Almaty

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.

See also

Panfilov Pedestrian Street

Panfilova Street was formed in the second half of the 19th century as a meridional crossing the center of the city of Verny from north to south, and then it housed: a military cathedral, artillery barracks, small officials, merchants, and wealthy artisans settled. The street was considered second-rate, adjacent to the center where the city nobility lived. In Soviet times, the street was thoroughly reconstructed and landscaped, planted with deciduous trees, such as elm (elm) and poplar. The main irrigation irrigation canals were laid, in which in summer daily water was let in from the head irrigation canal.

Kok Tobe Park is a popular place for romantic dates and family walks. It is located on the peak of the “Kok Tobe” mountain at an altitude of 1100 meters above sea level. From the city center, you can reach it in just 10 minutes by car, but it is much more interesting to take a ride on the famous cable car, admiring the breathtaking views of the city. From the top of the mountain you can see not only city landscapes, but also breathtaking panoramas of the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau.

Ascension Cathedral

The absence of nails in the building is, of course, a legend, but many building technologies have actually been tested on it for the first time. For example, reinforced concrete structures, wood preservatives, and forced-air and exhaust ventilation systems. But the biggest innovation of that time was the construction of an earthquake-resistant high-rise building (41.5 m). Considering the results of the devastating earthquake of 1887, this technology was an architectural breakthrough!

First President’s Park

The territory of the park is 73 hectares of plantings. More than 11 thousand trees and shrubs, flowers and herbs are stunning in their diversity. Traditional oak alleys and an exotic “Japanese Garden”, flower beds and lawns where you can sit and have a picnic - the park has long been a favorite destination of citizens. The city festivals - "Almaty - a city of flowers", "Puppet Carnival" and "Apple Festival" all take place here.

Hotel «Kazakhstan»

This building has been on all postcards with landscapes of the city for more than 30 years now. The facade of the building is a classic example of the Soviet modernity, and it is crowned with a real crown - a symbol of nobility and dignity. The hotel first opened its doors for guests in 1977, and in 1979 was entered in the register of architectural monuments of national importance.

Kazakh State Circus

A spaceship, a traditional Kazakh yurt or a circus tent? This building at one time was one of the business cards of the city, and even now Almaty residents like to walk around it and enjoy pleasant sunny days on the benches at their favorite circus. The building was built with the initiative of the first secretary of the Kazakh SSR Central Committee Dinmukhamed Kunaev in 1972, his project was developed by specially invited architects from Ukraine: Katsev and Slonov.

Kazakh-British Technical University (former Government House)

The building is located on the edge of the «Old Square», the place where all major urban festivals, concerts, flash mobs and other events are held. The majestic building with large pillars is surrounded by fountains on all sides and it leaves a lasting impression. Before, the Government House and Akimat of the Almaty region used to be there, and now this is where the Kazakh-British University is located.

The main city amusement park, water park, dolphinarium, dinopark, boating - in this park, it's hard to get bored even if you want to. In the middle of the central lake, on the island, there is a restaurant that you can take a boat to or stroll along the lovely openwork bridge. Various strength meters, shooting galleries, magicians, face painting artists - here we can, as they say, "see others and show ourselves"

Independence Monument

The majestic monument is dedicated to proclamation of the sovereignty of the Republic of Kazakhstan which took place on December 16, 1991. The monument is located on the edge of the “Square of Astana”, which in the city is often called the “new square”. The creation of this symbol was a personal initiative of our President Nursultan Nazarbayev. The authors of the monument: the head of the creative team Shota Valikhanov, sculptors Adilet Zhumabayev and Nurlan Dalbayev, architect Kazybek Zharylgapov.

Kazakh State academic opera and ballet theatre named after Abay

The theater was built in 1941 by order of the People's Commissariat of Education of the Kazakh Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. For the first time in the life of Soviet Kazakhstan, national themes were used in its architecture. During World War II, the entire theater and cinematic elite of the USSR was evacuated here. Sergei Eisenstein filmed "Ivan the Terrible" here, and the famous prima Galina Ulanova danced on the stage of the Theatre and taught at the Almaty Choreographic School.

Botanical Garden

How to find yourself in the silence of the wild, without leaving the city center? Located on Timiryazev’s large street, the garden will open doors for you to 108 hectares of real pine groves, spruce forests, oak and birch avenues, lilac thickets and other plants from around the world. If you are lucky, you will be able to meet representatives of the wild fauna - charming squirrels, fearful pheasants, proud blue-headed birds...

Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen

The park is named after the Panfilov Division, 28 hero soldiers who single-handedly stopped the advance of fascist tanks on Moscow during the Second World War. The words of the permanent political instructor of the division Vasily Klochkov: "Russia is vast, but there is nowhere to retreat. Moscow is behind us!" are inscribed in every Soviet history textbook and still touch the hearts.

From the mid-19th century, this street was one of the key places in the life of the city of Verny. In Soviet times, it was Arbat that was the center of youth meetings, the heart of all city events and the favorite leisure zone for weekends. After turning the Panfilov street into the pedestrian zone, Arbat seemed to have been reborn — even on a cold winter evening, you can meet Almaty citizens or city guests taking a walk.

You can spend the whole day at the territory of the Atakent Business Cooperation Center. Walks in a pleasant park area, playgrounds, fountains, water park, trampoline park, restaurants, Atakent Mall and Gallery shopping centers, Karkara bazaar - entertainment for every taste and walks in the fresh air give you a lot of pleasure.

“Arasan” bathhouse

Arasan is more than just a sauna complex - it is an important part of the history of the city. Since 1984, this bath is a monument of national importance. The complex is designed to serve up to 2.5 thousand people per day. It consists of 12 pavilions. 230 women and 270 men can be in the complex at the same time.