Ice skating has long been a favorite winter pastime. But this fun was available only at sub-zero temperatures, when water froze in reservoirs - on a river or in a lake.
The oldest skating rink in the world was organized on Petrovka in Moscow in 1862. And today it remains a favorite vacation spot for citizens and guests of Moscow.
In Europe, the world's first artificial skating rink was opened in January 1876. He, too, could only function in winter, but was not tied to a specific reservoir, but was flooded in an open artificial arena, which had already become a sensation at that time.
The ice covered arena was first built in Canada in the city of Victoria. She received the first skaters on Christmas Eve 1912. Its capacity was only 400 people (for comparison, some modern ice rinks have throughput more than 10 thousand people).
Since the first skating rinks in the world were opened, they have changed a lot, becoming larger and more powerful, the quality of the ice cover has changed, and new opportunities for various sports events have appeared. Next, we will talk about the largest ice rinks on our planet.
Lake Joux, Switzerland
This reservoir lies in the Jura Mountains in the valley of the same name at an altitude of more than 1000 meters above the sea. The area of the lake is 9.5 km2. In spring, summer and autumn, this is an ordinary alpine lake, characterized by the beauty of landscapes and the purity of water. But in winter, for about 3-4 weeks, the lake completely freezes, turning into the largest natural skating rink in the world. Competitions on Lake Zhu are not arranged, only fun carnival evenings and demonstration performances in figure skating. But every day more than 3,000 amateurs ride here completely free of charge. By the way, there is practically no infrastructure in the lake area, so both adults and children enjoy spending time in nature.
This is a water channel, the oldest in North America, connects the capital of Canada Ottawa and the town of Kingston. Its length is 202 km. In spring, summer and autumn, the canal is used for its intended purpose: ships, barges, boats go through it. But in the harsh Canadian winter, the water in the canal freezes, and the authorities equip it with a giant 8-kilometer skating rink that stretches across the capital.
It could easily accommodate 900 hockey fields. It hosts an annual winter festival called "Winterlude". It includes many fun winter competitions, ice shows, ice sculpture exhibitions, music concerts and other activities. But the most popular is the mass skating along the Rideau Canal.
Interestingly, this largest skating rink is also used as a kind of "ecological transport". Locals all winter get to the city center on skates along the canal. The authorities even equipped the ice track with special signs for the safety of skaters. A green light means that the ice is good, you can safely go ahead, and a red one indicates that the warming has softened the ice, you need to be careful!
Skating rink in Mexico City, Mexico
This is the largest man-made ice rink in the world. It is not yet available in any other country in the world. The rink is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. It has an area of 32,000 square meters, and 14,000 people can ride here at the same time.
Mexico is a country with a hot climate, it is all the more amazing that it was here that the engineers were able to create this amazing ice rink. For its construction, special equipment was required; pipes were stretched underground for almost a hundred meters for cooling.
It is also interesting that this is a non-commercial project. It was built in 2008 at the expense of large businessmen, the entrance to it is free for everyone. Too bad it doesn't work all year round, it is poured a couple of weeks before the New Year and removed a few weeks after the holiday.
Skating rinks at VDNKh and Gorky Park, Moscow
In 2014, an enormous artificial skating rink was solemnly opened at VDNKh in Moscow. Its area is 20 thousand square meters.
After the Mexican one, this is the largest artificial skating rink on the planet. But it is paid, there are many skate rentals, cafes and other places where visitors spend their money.
The rink itself is very beautiful. Everything sparkles with lights, it is illuminated by 100,000 LED bulbs, and the ice is renewed twice a day. It is divided into 4 zones: children's, equipped with safety bumpers, hockey, extreme with towers and springboards, and amateur for ordinary people to ride.
No more than 5,000 skaters are allowed on the rink at the same time. Although it can accommodate more skaters, the administration believes that the crowd is unsafe and controls the flow of vacationers.
A year earlier, in 2013, a skating rink with an area of 15,000 square meters was opened in Gorky Park (Moscow). Also an impressive size! It quickly became popular among Muscovites and guests of the city. Entrance to it is also paid, it is surrounded by a comprehensive service: skate rentals, instructor assistance for beginners, cafes and bars for those who want to refresh themselves. Again, 4 zones are allocated here: hockey, dance (for lovers of figure skating), children's and main. For ease of movement along the ice tracks, long wooden scaffolds were built. The rink is very beautiful. It is decorated with lighting, 3D animations depict snowfall, fireworks, fire explosions and other three-dimensional illusions. Periodically, colorful ice shows and amateur competitions are tripled here.
Medeo, Kazakhstan
Another artificial ice rink that deserves attention. Located in the same sports complex near Almaty, Kazakhstan. The complex was built in 1972 on the slope of the Zailiysky Alatau mountain at an altitude of almost 1700 meters above sea level. Its area is really impressive: 10.5 thousand square meters. The ice cover is very High Quality, more than 200 world records have already been set on this rink, for which Medeo was named the "Record Factory".
At the same time, 8100 spectators can watch the competitions here (according to the number of seats).
Skating rink in St. Petersburg
IN northern capital in Udelny park the 4th largest artificial skating rink in the world is flooded. Its area is "only" 4 thousand square meters. Despite a powerful advertising campaign, many visitors rate the ice rink low. They do not like its shape in the form of a "donut" 7-8 meters wide, which is good for straight running, but does not allow pirouette lovers to turn around, long queues at the ticket office are also noted (people stand for 2 hours for a ticket), cramped locker rooms. The administration replies that the ice rink is still operating in test mode, and all shortcomings will be gradually eliminated.
Red Square, Moscow
By the standards of the world's giants, this ice rink has a very modest area - 2700 square meters. It is noteworthy that it is poured right on Red Square near the Kremlin. This tradition began in 2010 and is now repeated annually. The ice rink has good quality coating that can withstand thaw up to +7°C. Both professionals and amateurs can ride here for a moderate fee. The skating rink can accommodate up to 500 visitors. Ice hockey matches and figure skating competitions are held on the ice field. A scaffolding based on a Russian fairy tale was built along its perimeter, from which it is convenient to observe everything that happens on the skating rink. Despite the fact that it is clearly inferior in size to the sites at VDNKh and in Gorky Park, it is he who is called the "Main Ice Rink of Russia".
Wollman Rink, New York
New York City has a 2,600 square meter Wollman Rink. meters. Although it was opened back in 1950, it is still very beautiful, well-equipped, and has high-quality ice coverage. The skating rink is open to everyone from late October to early April.
He became especially famous and recognizable after a couple of sentimental Hollywood scenes were filmed here. Such famous personalities as Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson and Jim Carrey come here to ride.
Skating rink in Constitution Square in Mexico City
Since 2007, the largest ice rink in the world has been flooded before the New Year on one of central squares Mexican capital. Its area exceeds 3,200 square meters; it can accommodate up to 14,000 people a day. A landmark in Mexico City, this skating rink, located on Plaza Socalo (Plaza Socalo), is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest jellied skating rink.
Skating rink in a country with a hot climate
A very difficult task is to flood an open skating rink in Mexico, a country with a very hot climate. To maintain the required temperature, special devices were created that were connected to pipes (84 meters in total) passing under the ice.
Ice rink opening in Mexico City
Mexico City celebrated the opening of the ice rink with a grandiose colorful show, which was attended by thousands of city residents and tourists. Next to it, artificial snow slides were built, delighting the visitors of the holiday with sledding, and a fifty-meter New Year tree with a diameter of 20 meters was also built. Famous stars of show business performed at the five-hour New Year's performance, pleased their New Year's program professional figure skaters, a choir of 300 children sang Christmas songs.
Memorable New Year's project
According to the mayor of Mexico City, this New Year's project, which residents and guests of the city will remember for a long time, took $ 1.5 million, and the ice rink was built with funds donated by a group of Mexican businessmen. Entrance to the rink is free for everyone. In addition, skates are also rented out for free, however, for this you need to stand in a long line from a huge number of people who want to visit the record-breaking ice rink.
Don't know what to do on the weekend?What do you think of the idea of ice skating?
There are many skating rinks in Moscow, and the largest and highest quality ones, of course, are in Sokolniki and Gorky Park.
Yesterday, the ranks of the largest ice rinks were replenished! On November 28, another one opened at VDNKh - the largest in the world!
Its area is 20.5 thousand square meters. And this is only the area of ice cover, the entire rink with infrastructure occupies about 57,000 square meters. Such achievements in the field of winter leisure became possible thanks to the mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, who heads the headquarters for the revival of VDNKh.
We decided to gather our blogging party and go for a drive. In addition, on the evening of the opening day, they promised to show an incredible show.
In the middle part of the rink, we noticed a huge crane, and immediately knew that something big was going to happen. Indeed, at a height of 17 meters, a huge structure resembling a chandelier hovered in the air, on which drummers and acrobats of the flying French theater La Compagnie Transe Express were suspended.
"Sky Carillon" was the name of the show. Actually, this is the name of the flying structure in the shape of a lotus flower, which throughout the show was spinning and changing its shape.
There are several entrances to the skating rink along the entire perimeter of the rink, there is a rental of skates, and all of them are brand new, and some of them have not even been tagged. The skates are comfortable and very good quality.
The only thing that was a little embarrassing was that either the skates were badly sharpened or the ice was already a little shabby by that time. Well, really, yesterday was just a full house, there were a lot of people who wanted to ride. I hope the coating will be regularly cleaned and updated.
The skating rink is divided into several parts: a lovers' alley, a children's area, an extreme area, there is even a hockey rink for those who like to play, and a huge ice space for those who just like to ride in a circle.
The entire area of the ice rink is decorated with various light figures, as well as a bridge shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow. Throughout the route there are spotlights that change the light.
And of course, there are many food outlets and toilets on the territory of the rink and next to it. It is very comfortable.
Happy bloggers))) 
The guys and I were very pleased. I am sure that I will come here many more times this winter!
The largest artificial ice rink in the world has opened in Moscow, which may soon enter. Its area is more than 20 thousand square meters, and at the same time it can receive up to 5 thousand visitors. 100,000 LED bulbs are embedded in the ice. The skating rink is divided into several zones: a children's, hockey, extreme zone, as well as a spacious zone for comfortable skating. The ice will be updated twice a day during.
1. Officially, the skating rink opened at 19 pm, but those who wanted to ride were allowed to go earlier.
2. The skating rink is really big, they made a lot of skate rental points.
3. This is already the 190th skating rink with artificial turf and artificial ice cooling in Moscow. And he really the largest artificial skating rink in the world - 20 thousand sq.m.. The former record holder has a thousand less - this is Fluonis in the Netherlands. Bronze - again Moscow - Gorky Park and its 15 thousand square meters of ice.
4. True, there are skating rinks in the world and more. But they were not created by people, but by nature itself. So, the largest skating rink in the world is on the Swiss lake Zhu. It's hard to believe, but its area is 5 million square meters. It's like 4 . Another natural skating rink opens in winter in the Canadian capital - the Rideau Canal freezes there, with total area more than 1.5 million square meters. But this is not even a skating rink, but rather a transport artery: local residents simply get to anywhere in the city - on skates.
6. Around 20 pm the grand opening began.
7. A lot of people came to the opening.
8. It was a French theatrical show.
9. Buffoons?
10. A structure with bells and musicians, similar to a church, was lifted up.
13. The children quickly took the vacant seats.
16. Light installations.
With the onset of cold weather, almost all world capitals plunge into the atmosphere of winter magic, giving their squares and streets to ice arenas. Moreover, ice skating is one of the most popular and, perhaps, the most exciting winter entertainment.
Of course, there are many indoor ice rinks working all year round. But it is much more interesting to ride in the open air, on frozen rivers or canals.
Airlife presents 18 of the most famous ice rinks in the world.
- New York, USA
- National natural Park Yosemite, California, USA.
- Seefeld, Austria
- Vienna, Austria
- Weissensee, Austria
- Paris, France
- Kinderdijk, Holland
- Toronto, Canada
- Banff Lake Louise Resort, Canada
- Ottawa, Canada
- London, Great Britain
- Lake Joux, Switzerland
- Medeo, Kazakhstan
- Berlin, Germany
- Brussels, Belgium
Skate in Central park, surrounded by picturesque trees and skyscrapers of Manhattan - one of the most popular activities for citizens and visitors to New York. In 1949 it was flooded for the first time, and to this day it is flooded year after year. If you've never been to New York, you might have seen it in the movies. It is on this skating rink that the heroes of almost all films that take place in winter New York spin around.
Ice rink in rockefeller center- one of the main symbols of the city, especially popular during the festive seasons, from November to January. Expensive tickets to this rink are worth it.
This outdoor ice rink Yosemite park is not only one of the largest, but also one of the most beautiful in the world, where in the background you can see the towering silhouette of the granite mountain Half Dome. It is worth noting that the tradition of skating in this park goes back to 1928. That's when employees natural park For the first time, they decided to flood an abandoned car park with water.
Quiet Tyrolean village can compete with the best international ski resorts. All conditions for winter sports are created here, first of all, skiing. However, those who still have strength left after skiing are invited to the skating rink, open from December to March in Ziller Valley.
"Ice Dream" fully justifies its name: here you can not only go skating to music (from waltzes to jazz and disco), but also drive at speed (415 meters of tracks) and even play curling on one of the six sites. And all this is against the backdrop of the magnificent building of the city hall. And don't forget the Viennese delicacies and mulled wine!
It should be noted at the outset that Weissensee is one of the cleanest deep lakes on Earth, and in winter it is the largest skating rink of the old world. The water is so clear that it has been awarded the international Tourism for Tomorrow Award. The skating rink has an area of 6.5 square meters. kilometers, where you can decently accelerate on skates.
Winter ice rink on eiffel tower - good old tradition. The ice premiere took place back in 1969, but ice is not poured every year. If you are lucky enough to get to the opening of the ice rink, you will have a unique opportunity to ride at a height of 57 meters.
No less popular French ice rink every year before Christmas opens for everyone on the square before famous building mayor's office- one of the attractions of Paris.
sleepy village in 15 kilometers from Rotterdam known for its windmills. Located along the canals, they serve not only to pump out the incoming water (most of Holland lies below sea level), but also a picturesque landscape for a winter skating rink.
It is easy to guess that there are dozens of open skating rinks in Toronto - the climate not only allows, but strongly recommends! One of them - at Nathan Phillips Square- is a practical and witty solution: in summer it is a rather pretentious fountain, and in winter - a cozy skating rink, under the "arches of freedom" it is pleasant to dissect in the brilliance of evening lights. Hockey is banned here, but illegal games of shinny (street hockey) are often started after 10 pm, when the caretakers of the rink leave their post.
This ice rink is formed when it freezes Lake Louise surrounded by mountains. No wonder the beautiful landscape adorns many Canadian postcards. The resort itself is a 2-hour drive from Calgary.
If you are going to the capital of Canada, do not forget to bring your skates. in winter Rideau Canal, connecting Ottawa and Kingston, turns into one of the longest skating rinks in the world, which stretches almost through the entire city center.
Rivers in Great Britain have not been frozen for many years, but ice skating is very popular among the inhabitants of Foggy Albion. The best ice rinks are traditionally filled in the most beautiful historical places- near museums, fortresses, in squares. The skating rink in South Kensington has become a favorite place for skating enthusiasts and fits perfectly into the city skyline.
Hampton Court is a beautiful tourist attraction, and in winter it turns into a skating rink for romantic couples. There are beautiful lighting, a bright carousel, and the smell of hot chocolate, as well as appropriate music.
It turns into the largest natural European skating rink Lake Joux in Switzerland. True, it does not work for long, since the lake freezes only for 2-3 winter weeks. But during this period, it hosts figure skating competitions, as well as ice carnival evenings.
Kazakhstan has the highest mountain skating rink in the world, which allows it to delight residents and guests of the country for six months. This skating rink is located in the Medeo sports complex, not far from Alma-Ata. Height at its location ( Medeo mountains) 1,691 meters above sea level, and the area of the ice field is 10.5 square meters. km.
If you find yourself in Berlin in winter, you can have a great time at the outdoor ice rink on Potsdamer Platz. The skating rink itself is not very large - 40 x 15 meters, but is one of the sights of the German capital in the cold season. The organizers decided to add the Winterwelt winter amusement park to the ice skating rink with a 70-meter snow slide, from which you can ride both on sleds and on skis.
Elegant Brussels invites you to ride on one of the main squares of the city, which bears the ancient name of the square fish market. Apart from great ice and invariably cheerful Brussels people (by the way, surf the skating rink very professionally), the skating rink offers a lot of entertainment in the surroundings.
Where would you like to go ice skating?
