Medeu in Almaty, a high?altitude ice rink in the mountains

Medeu is a high?altitude outdoor ice rink and sports complex in the mountains above Almaty in Kazakhstan, combining Soviet?era engineering with a dramatic alpine setting in Medeu Valley.

Ice on a mountain slope

The Medeu ice rink lies in a mountain valley on the south?eastern outskirts of Almaty, on the northern slope of the Trans?Ili Alatau range in the Tian Shan mountains. The sports complex sits at about 1,691 m (5,548 ft) above sea level, a height that has long given Medeu a reputation as one of the world’s leading high?altitude rinks for speed skating and other winter sports.Medeu ice rink The valley itself is part of the wider Medeu tract, a gorge carved by the Malaya Almatinka River, with steep slopes and forested terrain around the rink.Medeu tract

The rink is known for its large ice surface, which covers about 10,500 m² (113,000 sq ft) and has hosted numerous speed skating competitions and training sessions.10,500 m² ice surface Around the rink, terraces and stands provide viewing areas for spectators, while the surrounding slopes frame the oval of ice with mountains and coniferous woodland. The combination of a full?size rink and high?mountain surroundings has made Medeu an emblematic sports venue in Kazakhstan and across the former Soviet Union.

From early competitions to Soviet engineering

The origins of ice sport at Medeu go back to the late 1940s, when a site in the valley was selected for a high?mountain skating rink and early competitions began in 1951 on natural ice.early competitions in 1951 During the Soviet period the complex was expanded and rebuilt with artificial ice, and the modern stadium structure is generally dated to 1972, when the current rink opened as a major alpine sports complex.stadium built in 1972 Over the decades Medeu became a venue where numerous world and national speed?skating records were set, using the combination of artificial ice and mountain altitude.

The high?altitude sports complex at Medeu is associated with architects Vladimir Katsev, Arystan Kaynarbayev and Marat Zhaksylykov, reflecting design work carried out in Almaty between the 1950s and the 1970s.architects of the complex In the Soviet era their work on Medeu was recognised with high honours, including the USSR State Prize awarded in 1975 to the team of designers and builders for the creation of the high?mountain sports complex.USSR State Prize in 1975 Later reconstructions, including a major technical upgrade in 2003, have kept the facility in use as a public sports venue.

Medeu, the valley and Almaty

Medeu takes its name from Medeu Pusurmanov, a local entrepreneur of the nineteenth century associated with the development of the tract in the foothills above Almaty.Medeu Pusurmanov The gorge of Medeu lies roughly south?east of the city centre, with the sports complex standing about 14 to 16 km from central Almaty along the valley of the Malaya Almatinka River.distance from Almaty From the open terraces at the rink the surrounding slopes rise towards higher ground, and the valley continues up towards other mountain facilities such as the Shymbulak ski area.

The Medeu tract itself is described as lying between about 1,520 m and 1,750 m in elevation, with the sports complex near the upper end of that range.tract elevation Within the valley road access, public transport routes and cable?car connections link the rink with Almaty and neighbouring sites, while the river and the mountain slopes provide a setting that makes Medeu feel distinctly separate from the city even though it is comparatively close in distance.

Visiting Medeu: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Medeu lies south?east of central Almaty in the Medeu Valley, reached by road into the Trans?Ili Alatau mountains and served by city bus routes such as bus number 12 from Almaty.bus number 12 from Almaty
• The complex stands at high altitude, and paths, stairways and spectator terraces around the rink involve gradients and steps on mountain terrain.
• Medeu is close to other mountain facilities above Almaty, including the Shymbulak ski area further up the valley, and views from the rink take in the surrounding slopes and forest.
• The official language is Kazakh and the currency is the Kazakhstani 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.

Searching for Medeu on social platforms

These links open searches for Medeu on each platform.

Frequently asked questions about Medeu

Where is Medeu located in relation to Almaty?

Medeu stands in a mountain valley south?east of central Almaty, in the Medeu tract of the Trans?Ili Alatau range, at about 1,691 m (5,548 ft) above sea level.

What can visitors expect on a visit to Medeu?

Visitors encounter a large outdoor ice rink with terraces and mountain surroundings, together with access paths, steps and views along the Medeu Valley towards higher ground.

What makes Medeu distinctive among sports venues?

Medeu combines a full?size artificial ice rink and long record?setting history with its high?altitude location in a steep mountain gorge close to a major city.