Medeu, Almaty’s high?mountain rink in a narrow gorge

High in the foothills above Almaty, Medeu lays a broad sheet of artificial ice across a steep mountain valley, framing winter sport against bare rock and conifer slopes. Built as a Soviet high?mountain sports complex at the start of the 1970s, it carries the name of Medeu Pusurmanov, a nineteenth?century entrepreneur whose activities gave the tract its identity.

A high?altitude stadium in Medeu Valley

Medeu sits in Medeu Valley on the south?eastern edge of Almaty, in the mountains of the Trans?Ili Alatau range. The sports complex stands at about 1,691 m (5,548 ft) above sea level, which places its ice surface well above the city and into the band of air that early Soviet planners considered ideal for fast skating. The site lies on the course of the Malaya Almatinka River, where the valley narrows and the slopes rise sharply on either side of the stadium.Medeu sits 1,691 m above

The present arena belongs to a wider high?mountain sports complex, with the rink as its centrepiece and terraces arranged around the ice. In Soviet descriptions it was classed as a high?altitude facility, and later accounts describe it as one of the largest mountain complexes for winter sports, reflecting both its scale and its setting above the city.high-altitude sports complex

From early natural ice to a 1972 concrete rink

The origins of Medeu as a skating venue lie in decisions taken in the late 1940s to create a high?mountain rink near Almaty. Construction of the first facility began in 1949, and a natural?ice rink opened to competitors in February 1951, operating during the coldest period of the year when lower temperatures allowed a frozen surface on the valley floor.the rink was opened on February 4, 1951 Over more than two decades this early rink saw numerous speed skating performances and became associated with record?setting at altitude.

The present form of Medeu dates to the early 1970s, when the high?mountain sports complex with an artificial ice surface was completed. Work on upgrading the stadium took place between 1969 and 1972, and the reconstructed rink opened in December 1972 as a concrete arena with artificial refrigeration and expanded stands.the reconstructed rink opened in December 1972 The designers named for the alpine sports complex include Vladimir Katsev, Arystan Kaynarbayev and Marat Zhaksylykov, linking Medeu to a wider history of sports architecture in Almaty.architects of the project

Ice, records and the mountain setting

Medeu’s ice field extends over about 10,500 m² (around 113,000 sq ft), with a freezing and watering system laid beneath the surface to maintain the artificial ice.artificial ice field 10,500 square meters Terraces ring the rink, and the whole composition sits within the bowl of the valley, backed by slopes that rise towards the Shymbulak ski area higher in the mountains. The combination of broad sheet of ice and surrounding mountains gives the stadium a distinct spatial character, with sport taking place against a steep natural backdrop.

During the Soviet period Medeu became known for the number of speed skating records set on its ice, a reputation linked to the altitude, the size of the ice field and the sports infrastructure built around it.factory of records Later accounts of the complex note its status as a high?mountain venue and refer to it as one of the leading winter sports sites in Kazakhstan, with mass skating sessions held on the artificial ice surface and a close relationship to the ski slopes further up the valley.

Visiting Medeu: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Medeu lies south?east of central Almaty in Medeu Valley on the northern slopes of the Trans?Ili Alatau range, and is reached by road from the city along Dostyk Avenue.
  Local bus routes, including services using the number 12 from the urban network, run from Almaty districts up the valley to the sports complex.
• The stadium stands at around 1,691 m (5,548 ft) above sea level, so visitors move from city streets to higher?altitude terrain with steeper gradients and mountain weather on the approach and around the rink.
• The terraces and access routes around the ice surface include stairways and level changes between seating and circulation areas, and the wider valley floor combines paved zones with sections of natural ground and riverbank.
• Medeu lies in Kazakhstan, where the official language is Kazakh alongside Russian and the currency is the tenge.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Medeu

Where is Medeu in relation to Almaty?

Medeu is in Medeu Valley on the south?eastern outskirts of Almaty, in the northern foothills of the Trans?Ili Alatau mountains.

What can visitors expect on a visit to Medeu?

Visitors encounter a large open?air skating rink with an artificial ice surface, terraces surrounding the stadium and mountain slopes rising around the valley.

What makes Medeu distinctive among winter sports venues?

Medeu combines a broad artificial ice field at about 1,691 m (5,548 ft) above sea level with a steep mountain gorge setting and a strong legacy of speed skating records.