The world’s first urban ski slope is about to debut[Global Times Comprehensive Report] According to the UK's Daily Mail on November 18, Almaty, a city in southeastern Kazakhstan, is about to welcome a rather unique building. Unlike typical buildings with flat rooftops, this building will feature a sloped, wide ski slope on its roof. Once completed, it will become the world’s only ski run located right in an urban area, and Almaty could also become the next hot skiing destination.
Almaty has long, cold winters, not only with average temperatures dropping as low as -20°C, but also with freezing weather lasting from November through April of the following year. This challenging winter actually creates perfect external conditions for constructing this uniquely designed slope. According to the design plans, the slope will be 1,000 feet (approximately 305 meters) long and about 90 feet (around 28 meters) wide.
The project is currently awaiting approval from the municipal government. According to the designers, this will be a comprehensive building integrating commercial, residential, and sports functions. Once approved, the building is set to make a splash — allowing skiing enthusiasts to enjoy the thrill of the sport without even leaving their neighborhood.