Medeu, Almaty’s high?mountain rink in the Medeu Valley
Published on 09/12/2026 at 15:22 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Medeu is a high?mountain sports complex and outdoor skating rink in the Medeu Valley on the south?eastern edge of Almaty in Kazakhstan, set against the northern slopes of the Trans?Ili Alatau range. It stands at an elevation of about 1,691 m (5,548 ft) above sea level, giving visiting skaters and spectators a direct view of steep, rugged hills rising around the stadium bowl.1,691 m above sea level
A high?altitude ice stadium in a mountain valley
The Medeu complex occupies a relatively narrow valley carved by the Malaya Almatinka river, which flows past the stadium towards the city streets below. Standing on the terraces, visitors look across the broad rectangle of ice framed by concrete stands, retaining walls and the slopes of the Trans?Ili Alatau above.skating rink in the mountains The main rink surface covers about 10,500 m², matching Olympic speed skating proportions while remaining fully open to the sky in the middle of the valley.10,500 m² ice surface
Medeu is described as a high?altitude sports complex because the rink and its surrounding facilities sit well above the urban districts of Almaty, at a height that makes it one of the world’s recognised high?mountain outdoor skating venues.high-altitude sports complex Around the ice, banks of seating rise in stepped rows, and at the upper end of the valley a large dam structure forms a distinct backdrop, linking the sports setting with Almaty’s wider efforts to manage mudflows in this part of the Tian Shan foothills.dam near the rink
From natural ice to Soviet?era “record factory”
The story of Medeu as a skating venue reaches back to mid?twentieth?century Soviet planning, when a decision was taken to create a high?mountain rink close to Almaty. Construction of the first facility began in 1949, and a natural?ice rink opened for competitions in February 1951 on the valley floor, operating during the coldest months when a frozen surface could be maintained.began in 1949, opened 1951 This early rink relied on winter temperatures and a simpler infrastructure than visitors see at the site in its present form.
Over the following decades Medeu became closely associated with speed skating at altitude, and numerous world and national records were set on its ice, earning it a reputation in the Soviet sporting world as a “factory of records”.history of the skating rink The present stadium complex took shape between 1969 and 1972, when the rink was reconstructed as a modern high?mountain sports arena with an artificial ice surface and expanded stands, and the rebuilt facility opened in December 1972.reconstructed 1969–1972 Later renovations have refreshed the equipment and buildings while retaining the basic arrangement of a large open?air rink set within a mountain gorge.
Medeu today: sport, leisure and the surrounding landscape
The high?mountain setting makes Medeu a place where organised sport, local leisure and mountain scenery meet. The stadium is used for speed skating training and competitions when ice is in place, and also offers sessions for recreational skating that draw visitors from across Almaty and from further afield in Kazakhstan.Alpine Sports Complex In warmer periods, the concrete surrounds of the rink host activities such as cycling or ball games, and the terraces and connecting paths provide viewpoints towards the Trans?Ili Alatau peaks.
The wider Medeu Valley also forms part of the attraction. The Malaya Almatinka river runs below access roads and paths, and beyond the stadium the valley continues towards higher slopes and forested hillsides. The name “Medeu” is linked in regional accounts to Medeu Pusurmanov, a local entrepreneur who owned land in the area in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and whose association with the tract helped establish the toponym that travellers encounter on maps and road signs.named after Medeu Pusurmanov
Visiting Medeu: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Medeu lies south?east of central Almaty in the Medeu Valley on the northern slopes of the Trans?Ili Alatau range, reached by road from the city along major avenues such as Dostyk Avenue.14 km from Almaty
- Within the complex, access between different levels involves staircases and sloping paths, and the altitude of around 1,691 m (5,548 ft) means that visitors are moving around at a significantly higher elevation than in much of Almaty.elevation figure
- Near the rink a substantial dam structure and the course of the Malaya Almatinka river mark the transition between the built sports facilities and the surrounding mountain landscape, so short walks around the complex link stadium views with glimpses of the valley and slopes beyond.dam and valley
- The official language of Kazakhstan is Kazakh, and Russian is also widely used; the national 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.
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Frequently asked questions about Medeu
Where is Medeu located in relation to Almaty?
Medeu lies in the Medeu Valley on the south?eastern outskirts of Almaty, on the northern slopes of the Trans?Ili Alatau range at around 1,691 m (5,548 ft).location and altitude
What can visitors expect when they arrive at Medeu?
Visitors find a large outdoor ice rink surrounded by concrete stands, access paths and mountain scenery, with facilities for organised sport, recreational skating when ice is present, and warm?season activities on and around the stadium.Alpine Sports Complex description
What makes Medeu distinctive among skating venues?
Medeu’s combination of high?altitude location above a major city, a large open?air rink of about 10,500 m² and its mid?twentieth?century role in speed skating history, including many records set on its ice, gives it a distinctive character among outdoor stadiums.large high-mountain rink
