The most impressive ice rinks in the world. The world's largest artificial skating rink In Brooklyn's Samuel Gee and Ethel LeFrac Center: silver against the blue "sky"
The other day a new ice rink was opened in St. Petersburg, which is also the largest in the northern capital. We decided to see where else there are ice rinks that impress tourists and locals with their size, and we present a selection of the eleven largest ice rinks in Europe.
(Total 11 photos)
1. Perhaps the largest winter ice rink in the world can be called the mountain lake Joux (Lac de Joux) in Switzerland: its area is almost 5,000,000 sq.m. Tourists from all over Yevprova come to this place to skate. The lake is not only beautiful, but also “exclusive” in a sense: it freezes for only two weeks a year. Therefore, the most sophisticated skaters are looking forward to these days with some impatience. In the high season, figure skating competitions and ice carnival evenings are held on Lake Zhu.
2. Lake Paterswoldsemer, located to the southwest of the Dutch city of Groningen, is almost twice inferior to the leader - its area is 2,700,000 sq.m. Paterswoldsemer is part of the Groningen-Drenthe lakes. In the warm season, lovers of walks on light ships rush here, and in winter the place turns into a huge ice rink. This lake is not only one of the largest in terms of area, but is also the longest ice rink, stretching for as much as 10 km. Its water surface is covered with a strong crust of ice in winter, which lasts until the beginning of spring, allowing thousands of outdoor enthusiasts to ski every day.
3. The third place in our ranking of the largest ice rinks in the world is occupied by the Rideau Canal in Canada with an area of 1,620,000 sq.m. The canal stretches through almost the entire center of Ottawa, the capital of Canada, and it is worth noting that in winter, local residents here practically do not take off their skates, quickly getting to anywhere in the city center using this eco-friendly type of “transport”. In Ottawa, for skate fans, the city authorities even came up with road signs: green - go ahead, red - too warm, the ice has lost its strength!
In this case, not only the ice rink is impressive, but also the work of the local Canadian administration.
4. In fourth place is the Mexican capital with its ice rink, located in the center of Mexico City. The area of the skating rink reaches 32,000 sq.m, and has artificial surface. The ice rink in Mexico City is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest artificial ice rink in the world. In order for the ice rink to exist for a long time, 74 km were laid under the ice. pipes that are connected to special devices that maintain the required temperature.
5. Next on the list of the largest ice arenas is a domestic participant - the skating rink in the park to them. Gorky. The size of the rink is 18,000 sq. meters. There are 4 sectors: dance, children's, basic and hockey. A long wooden bridge runs along the paths filled with ice.
6. A brand new skating rink in the Specific Park of St. Petersburg is still in test mode. The area of this largest skating rink in the city is about 4000 square meters. Photo: Egor Tsvetkov
7. "The main ice rink of Russia" in 7th place on our list - Red Square in Moscow for 6 winters in a row becomes an ice rink for Muscovites and guests of the capital. The open GUM skating rink occupies a tenth of Red Square, and on its territory of 2,700 sq.m, not only vacationers have fun (capacity -450 people), but also hockey matches and demonstration performances of figure skaters are organized. A fabulous wooden town has been erected near the ice rink, from where you can watch the skaters.
8. Almost the same area (2600 sq.m) is available in New York: Wollman Rink is spacious, beautiful, but most importantly, it has become a legend thanks to its participation in numerous romantic scenes in Hollywood films. In reality, the skating rink is as beautiful as in the movies, and what's nice - you can skate here around the clock - a great place for leisure for all kinds of romantics. By the way, the skating rink is already 64 years old - for the first time skaters took to its ice back in 1950! A nice bonus of a winter holiday at the skating rink is the opportunity to run into a movie star - they say Jim Carrey, Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman are very fond of Wollman Rink.
9. The City Hall of Paris every year pleases the citizens by installing a skating rink right next to its walls: everyone is happy to skate in the arena with an area of 1635 square meters. m.
10. Seefeld, Austria
This quiet Tyrolean village rivals the best international ski resorts. There are all conditions for winter sports, especially skiing. However, those who still have strength left after skiing are invited to the skating rink, open from December to March in the Zillertal valley with an area of 1,500 sq.m.
11. And, finally, the arena closes our hit parade of the most “grand” ice rinks in the world, although not the largest (only 200 sq.m), but certainly the most spectacular and romantic, because it is located in the heart of Paris, on the Eiffel Tower, at a height 57 meters. The 200 m² skating rink also offers visitors a stunning panorama of Paris. Ice skating is great fun, and French music and original lighting effects keep the atmosphere alive at this place. To keep warm in this realm of metal and ice, there is a bar where you can buy hot coffee, hot wine and other drinks. The ice premiere took place back in 1969, but the ice is not filled every year, and the skating rink is open only until January 31. The Eiffel Tower skating rink is also one of the five most visited Christmas skating rinks in the world. Skating rinks in Vienna near the city hall, on Museum Square in Amsterdam and in London near the Natural History Museum are also in great demand among tourists.
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 zone, an extreme zone, 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!
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 body of water, 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 a capacity of 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 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 events. 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. The only pity is that it does not work all year round, it is flooded 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 sports complex of the same name near Alma-Ata, 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 here is of very high quality, more than 200 world records have already been set on this rink, for which Medeo was called 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
The 4th largest artificial skating rink in the world is flooded in the Northern capital in the Specific Park. 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 a 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 in one of the central squares of the 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. Slides made of artificial snow were built next to it, delighting the visitors of the holiday with sledding, and a fifty-meter Christmas tree with a diameter of 20 meters was also built. Well-known show business stars performed at the five-hour New Year's performance, professional figure skaters delighted with their New Year's program, and 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 queue from a huge number of people who want to visit the record-breaking ice rink.
World of travel
1710
27.12.17 11:11
On these mysterious days before the New Year, the squares of many cities (including Palace in St. Petersburg, Krasnaya in Moscow or opposite the majestic Somerset House in London) turned into delightfully beautiful skating rinks, where young people, children, romantic couples, and veterans rush skates. Festive illumination, music and exquisite decoration make the ice rinks just fabulous! Today we look at the most unusual ice rinks in the world.
Patterns on ice: the most unusual ice rinks in the world
Vintage Depot in Minneapolis
One of America's oldest depots, a building with high arches built in Minneapolis (Minnesota) at the end of the 19th century, was intended to "park" trains that passed along the Milwaukee Road line. The last train departed from here in 1871. But the historic building was not abandoned - it turned into an atmospheric hotel "The Renaissance Minneapolis", which is equipped with one of the most unusual ice rinks in the United States.
Maggie Daley's Chicago Park Gem
The stunning Chicago City Ice Rink is part of the vast and beautiful Maggie Daly Park. Although the skating rink opened only in 2014, it managed to gain incredible popularity, and today a sea of \u200b\u200btownsmen flock here, thirsty for winter entertainment. The design of the ice rink was developed by architect Michael van Valkenburgh, and the most valuable thing about this ice ribbon is that it offers charming views of Chicago, especially bewitching at dusk - in the play of a necklace of lights.
Transforming pool at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto
Nathan Phillips Square in the heart of Toronto is located directly opposite City Hall and was designed in 1965 by the same architect Vilho Revell in collaboration with landscape designer Richard Strong. The square is a treasure trove of sights, including Henry Moore's Archer, a statue of Winston Churchill and a stunning pool surrounded by the so-called "Liberty Arches" (which includes part of a replica of the Berlin Wall). In winter, the pool turns into a luxurious ice skating rink, a center of attraction for both locals and tourists.
At the Brooklyn Center, Samuel Gee and Ethel LeFrac: silver against the blue "sky"
The most famous skating rink in New York is the skating rink at Rockefeller Center. But, if you are ready to leave hospitable Manhattan and go to Brooklyn, here you will find a pleasant surprise. No buildings were built in Lakeside Prospect Park from the 19th century until 2013, but recently the Samuel Gee and Ethel LeFrac Center (designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects) has grown here. The highlight of the Center was a beautiful skating rink. The peculiarity of this ice rink is an unusual ceiling, deep blue, with carved silver lines running over each other like waves.
Ingalls Center: A Yale Legend
The ice rink, or rather, the center of Ingalls, is the pride of Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut). The full name of the structure is David S. Ingalls Skating Rink, by Eero Saarinen, Yale University, USA, it is named after benefactors, father and son, both of whom were once captains of the university's hockey team.
The building, which can accommodate 3,500 people, was built between 1953 and 1958. The locals nicknamed him "The Whale". It is now valued at $1.5 million (more than double the original cost). In 1970, a terrorist attack took place in the center - right during a protest concert, two bombs were thrown into the building, damaging the glass doors and the roof.
Liege arena: in the womb of the "whale"
Speaking of whale! If you want to know how the prophet Jonah felt when he was swallowed by a giant whale, then you need to visit the building of the Liege Ice Rink in Belgium. The brainchild of the architectural firms Bureau d'Etudes Weinand and L'Escaut grew up in Liege in 2012. It's a dramatic silver structure covered in 200,000 shimmering aluminum plates, with a "whale head" dome at the back that hugs the car park entrance. The playful appearance (either a marine mammal or an airship) hides a serious sports facility - an Olympic ice rink with an area of 1800 square meters. meters with a capacity of 1200 people. When the arena is free from competition, the rink is open to skaters.
Near the Turkish city of Kayseri: surreal windows
Nine miles from the Turkish city of Kayseri is one of the fanciest ice rinks on our list. It was built in 2009 by the Istanbul architectural firm. Both the sharp corners of the roof and the slanted columns, reminiscent of parts of a dinosaur skeleton, are unique.
The skating rink is open all year round. Its area is 2000 sq. meters and the snow-white interior is illuminated by bizarre lamps, but the most memorable part of the ice rink is the windows of amorphous surrealistic shapes with multi-colored glasses.
Pyongyang ice rink: a futuristic hulk
The futuristic structure, which can accommodate 6,000 people, was opened in 1982 in Pyongyang and was the first indoor ice skating rink in the DPRK. Until now, this skating rink remains the largest in North Korea. The arena, 60 meters long and 30 meters wide, hosts hockey games, speed skating and figure skating competitions under the gaze of the "glorious leader" Kim Jong Un, who gazes at the audience from large posters. According to the Lonely Planet website, the skating rink "can be visited occasionally" in order to just ride.
At the Paris Grand Palais: extravaganza in the palace
The grandiose Beaux-Arts style Grand Palais opened its doors in the center of Paris, next to the Champs Elysees, in 1900. Since then, it has been "overgrown" with exquisite halls and rooms with different functions.
There are art exhibitions, grand fashion shows, sports competitions, and every winter since 2012, they have hosted a stunning temporary skating rink - the largest of all skating rinks in France. The combination of a tall domed ceiling, huge plasma screens and spectacular light shows makes the skating rink one of the most impressive ice arenas in the world.
At Jumeirah Vittaveli: under the tropical sun, against the backdrop of palm trees
The luxurious resort Jumeirah Vittaveli (Bolifushi, Maldives) has prepared for its guests an extensive entertainment program for the New Year and Christmas. It includes not only fire shows, beach parties, congratulations from Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden, carnivals, but also the construction of the first ice rink in the region.
The peculiarity of this unusual eco-skating rink is that it will be open all year round. So hotel guests can enjoy skiing on ice that does not melt in the tropical sun against the backdrop of turquoise waves and palm trees. Interestingly, this ice rink, manufactured using the most modern technologies, does not need any additional filling (that is, water) or electricity. The ice rink is a wonderful, truly magical gift for everyone who decides to relax in Jumeirah Vittaveli!
