Snow queen of Almaty: Iconic hotel taking over social media

Published January 26, 2026 12:08

Yerlan Iskakov

Yerlan Iskakov

ye.iskakov@kursiv.media
Peak winter aesthetic: the Almaty hotel catching every eye on social media / Photo: Threads.com/@dots_foto, photo editor: Adelina Mamedova

January frosts often bring frequent weather reports of blizzards and snowdrifts. They also mark one of the most active seasons for photography and video, capturing the striking beauty of landscapes transformed by snow.

In Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, temperatures fell to minus 17 degrees Celsius last week. Still, one user on Threads was undeterred, stepping outside to film what he described as a magical video postcard.

Посмотреть в Threads

He introduced viewers to the «Almaty Snow Queen,» set against falling snowflakes and the crisp crunch of snow underfoot. The footage features the iconic Kazakhstan Hotel, once the tallest building in the country, rising through the winter scene.

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