Updated on Tuesday, December 26, 2006, 00:00 IST

New York City, Dec 26: The Rink at Rockefeller Center turned 70 years old on Christmas Day (Monday 25th December).

The ice rink, located in the middle of Rockefeller Center in New York City, was built in 1936, replacing the complex's original shopping concourse.

It opened on Christmas Day that year and today more than a quarter of a million people from around the world visit every year from October to April to skate beneath the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree which predates the rink by five years.

Beneath the most famous Christmas tree in America lies the Rink at Rockefeller Center.

The popular tourist destination in New York City turned 70 years old on Monday.

It was business as usual for the rink, hosting public skating sessions throughout Christmas Day.

The rink was built in 1936, replacing the complex's original shopping concourse.

It opened on Christmas Day that year and today more than a quarter of a million people from around the world visit every year from October to April to skate among the skyscrapers and beneath the tree which predates the rink by five years.

The skating surface is 122 feet (37.2 meters) long and 59 feet (18 meters) wide and can accommodate approximately 150 skaters per session.

Sitting beside the rink is the statue of Prometheus giving fire to man.

Skaters needed a fire to warm up on Monday as the temperature spent most of the day hovering around 10 degrees celsius (50 degrees fahrenheit)

But chilly weather did nothing to freeze the warm holiday spirits of the skaters on the 70th birthday of the Rink at Rockefeller Center.

Bureau Report