Astana residents walk on thin ice again despite warnings

Photo: threads.com/@astana_online24.7, photo editor: Adelina Mamedova

The Astana Botanical Garden is well known for its scenic pond. Now, it has gained attention for a different reason: visitors walking on thin ice. Photos of people casually strolling across the frozen surface, taking pictures and even pushing children in strollers quickly went viral.

Despite the cold climate of Kazakhstan’s capital — the second coldest capital in the world after Mongolia’s Ulaanbaatar — the ice remains thin here in mid-November. To prevent accidents, authorities repeatedly warn residents not to walk on the ice, but these warnings appear to be ignored.

Social media users sharply criticized the behavior:

«People have no self-preservation instinct.» «The woman with the stroller needs to be found for at least an educational talk.» «They don’t think about their own lives, and even worse, they take their children with them and set a bad example.» «The weather was above freezing that day.» «Are there really no other places to walk?»

According to the Astana Department of Emergency Situations, the ice on the Yesil River and the Botanical Garden pond is currently only about 2 centimeters thick — and in some spots, completely absent. Ice is considered safe to walk on only when it reaches at least 10 centimeters.

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«Do not go out onto the ice without first checking its strength, as this poses a risk to your life. Never let children onto the ice without adult supervision. Take care of yourself and your loved ones!» the Ministry of Emergency Situations said, adding that walking on thin ice is punishable by law.

Meanwhile, in Almaty, residents can enjoy skating at the first outdoor rink opened in October. Although daytime temperatures still reach around 10 degrees Celsius, people seem happy with the activity, sharing their impressions on social media.