Medeo is an outdoor skating rink located in the middle of the majestic mountains on the southeastern part of Almaty.
It is located at an altitude of 1690 meters and considered the world’s largest alpine ice rink. To cover its area of 10 thousand square meters with ice, a sophisticated system of freezing and irrigation is used to ensure the ice of high quality. The construction of the ice rink was carried out from 1949 to 1951. The complex was intended to prepare athletes for competitions in mountainous areas. In 1974, Medeo hosted the European Speed Skating Championships.
The complex was reconstructed in the 1980s, 2001-2002 and in 2011. Its arena hosted major competitions such as the Asian Winter Games in 2011 and the World Bandy Championship in 2012. Medeo remains an important training center for winter sports athletes from Kazakhstan and other regions.
Medeo is also one of the most famous tourist destinations in Kazakhstan. It is open to the public all year round, allowing visitors to ride at high altitude day or night.
