Shymbulak Mountain Ski Resort, Kazakhstan

Symbulak (Chimbulak) Mountain Resort, near Almaty, in Kazakhstan, is the largest ski resort in Central Asia. It in the Medeu Valley in the Zaiilisky Alatau mountain range at an elevation of 2,200 metres (7,200 feet) above sea level.

The first ski lift was built in 1954, and competitions began from 1961. In 1983, it became the Olympic ski training centre for the Soviet Union. Almaty is bidding for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

It has about 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) of ski runs, with three ski lifts, one of which goes to 3,200 metres (10, 500 feet) above ski level at Talgar Pass.

At the 20th Prop Station at 2,630 metres (8,630 feet) above sea level is the SNEG hotel and restaurant.

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of: Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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