The World’s Highest Ice Rink
If you’re based in an Almaty hotel, there’s every chance you’ll be looking for something to do during your time in this unique city. The commercial hub of Kazakhstan, and one of the most significant financial centres of Central Asia, the former capital is a city that has a reputation for being somewhat slow when it comes to action. However, Southern Kazakhstan has an abundance of natural beauty, and several great landmarks that visitors should make an effort to explore. The mountains and valleys of the region provide numerous surprises to visitors. One of the more obscure venues located close to Almaty is the world’s highest skating rink:
Medeo
The Medeo, or Medeu, skating rink is easy to reach from your Almaty hotel using the public transport system. For those who want to travel at a more leisurely pace, some websites suggest that it is possible to walk to the rink, although we’d advise against this unless you’re very familiar with the area. At 1,691 metres above sea-level, the rink is easily the world’s highest. Despite its lofty position, the rink is surrounded by small hills, protecting it from the worst of the winter weather creeping in from the Kazakh steppes. The microclimate produced by the area’s geography means that it is usually milder in winter and a little cooler in summer than the city centre nearby.
The Rink’s History
The rink was initially constructed in 1949, and the first competition took place in 1951. It was originally composed of natural ice, but in the early 1970s a group of Soviet engineers converted the rink to an artificial system that remains to this day. In the late 1960s a dam was built, protecting the ice rink and the city from the dangerous mud-flows that can threaten the area, so you can now rest safe in your Almaty hotel! From the 1960s to the 1980s, many speed-skating world records were set at the rink, but after the collapse of the Soviet Union, its future became uncertain. However, in the past few years it has returned some way towards its former glory, hosting the bandy event in the 2011 Asian Winter Games and being announced as the main arena for the 2012 Bandy World Championship.
If you want to participate in some ice-skating, then the Medeo rink is open to the public from December until May. The area around the rink remains very popular during the summer, where the locals enjoy going for a picnic, or walk in the natural beauty of the area. If you’re looking for even more winter sports during your stay in an Almaty hotel, the rink is also close to the Chimbulak Ski Resort.
Looking for an Almaty hotel? Roberta Stuart is the Travel Manager for World Hotels, a company offering the best rooms at a Almaty hotel and a selection of unique and four and five star hotels around the world.
This article was provided by LeadGenerators, the smartest online marketing agency in London, and the proud host a series of internet marketing training seminars.
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