Popular ice skating rinks around the world
Whether it is cold outside or unseasonably warm, ice skating is always lots of fun. Our picture gallery shows some popular, and also unusual, ice skating rinks.
Downtown Moscow
An ice rink billed as the highest in Europe has opened for business atop a 354-meter (1,160 feet) building in downtown Moscow, providing skaters with panoramic views of the Russian capital. "It's located at such a height that one can see the whole of Moscow," said Maria, one of the first skaters to try out the ice.
Red Square, Moscow
Winter has arrived in Moscow. People who prefer skating the old fashioned way go to the ice rink in the center of the Red Square, in front of the Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow.
Grand Palais, Paris
With music, acrobats and disco balls, the Grand Palais in Paris put on an eye-catching "party on ice" to open its 2,700 square metre rink to the public. It is the world's largest non-permanent indoor ice rink, with more than 100 workers involved in laying ice over the concrete floor at the French landmark.
Rockefeller Center, New York
"The rink" celebrates its 80th anniversary season this winter. New Yorkers and tourists alike can skate at the base of the iconic Christmas tree in the heart of Rockefeller Center.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
People enjoy the ice skating rink in front of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam's Museumplein. Ice-skating is very popular in the Netherlands and the Dutch eagerly await the winter months when the canals freeze over.
Winchester Cathedral
Choristers from Winchester Cathedral don ice skates to try out the recently installed artificial ice rink beside the cathedral in Winchester, England.
Zollverein, Essen
A skating rink in the coking plant, Zollverein, in Essen-Katernberg, Germany. People skate along old furnaces which once used to be as hot as 1000 degrees Celsius (1832 degrees Fahrenheit). Today there are 150m long tracks, with light installations at night.
Zocalo Square, Mexico City
Ice skating when it's cold outside? Not necessarily. In Mexico City a family enjoys the summery temperatures as they skate on an ice rink built for Christmas, in Mexico City's historic Zocalo Square.
Bondi Beach, Australia
The same applies to Australia, where people enjoy ice skating at Bondi Beach.