Underwater, While Running, and on the Rocks: Unusual Conditions in which the Geographical Dictation was Taken in 2025

In 2025, the Geographical Dictation of the RGS was taken in Russia and other countries of the world at 10,000 venues. Some of them were so unusual that they amazed even the most experienced participants of the international educational campaign of the Russian Geographical Society. We will tell you about absolutely amazing places and conditions in which people who are sincerely in love with geography answered questions.

In Norilsk, the Geographical Dictation took place underwater for the first time. Here it was taken in the city pool. The event required an extremely serious approach and a review of the entire process, taking into account the unusual underwater environment. The forms with the questions had to be sealed, the organizers selected special pencils, tested the entire inventory for buoyancy, as many items would stubbornly surface. First of all, of course, safety issues and necessary measures were worked out in case of emergency situations.

«The difficulty of taking the Geographical Dictation underwater lies not only in spatial changes, such as weightlessness, but also in slow thinking, as the body adapts to a new environment, slowing down all processes. Water creates sensory signals that activate the respiratory retention reflex, reducing heart rate and redistributing blood flow in favor of vital organs. Sensory overload may also occur due to pressure, changes in vision, and the need to focus on physical well-being and breathing. We did it. Moreover, all the participants finished ahead of schedule, in less than 45 minutes, and there was time left for a second self-check and a photo session,» said Maksim Mironov, head of the Norilsk Branch of the Russian Geographical Society.

The Krasnoyarsk Territory, which had a total of 347 Geographical Dictation venues, can boast other unusual ones for the educational campaign of the RGS. For example, not far from Achinsk, 10 of the most frost-resistant Siberians answered questions directly in the fresh air, at a temperature of about -33 ° C. The event took place during a hike to the so-called «Vaskin’s Table», a snowy clearing in a pine forest, which was chosen by activists of the local tourist club.

For the first time, the Geographical Dictation was also taken in the Arctic seaport in Dudinka. Here, a tugboat, a crane, special equipment, an observation deck, a control room, and a conference hall of the port authority became the venues for the RGS event, where residents of the city and employees of the transpolar transport branch of PAO MMC Norilsk Nickel answered questions.

People took the Geographical Dictation in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and right in the air. This was done by the passengers of the «KrasAvia» airline on board the plane during the Krasnoyarsk — Turukhansk flight. After gaining altitude, all passengers were invited to join the event of the Russian Geographical Society and test their knowledge.

In the Altai Territory, where in 2025 the regional record for the number of the Geographical Dictation veneus was broken (67 veneus in nine cities and 25 districts), 140 passengers of the rapid suburban train «Steppe Express» answered the questions of the international educational campaign of the RGS for the first time. Conductors Ekaterina Denisova, Vlada Didenko, Ksenia Nikonova, Elizaveta Druzenko, and Svetlana Belobaba distributed forms to participants of different ages and tested their knowledge of geography with them.

Passengers noted that completing the Geographical Dictation tasks on a moving train turned the trip into a real intellectual adventure. The comfortable travel conditions allowed to focus on the issues and get real pleasure from the RGS campaign. According to the participants, the event has become a real geographical sensation and such events should become a good tradition.

In Buryatia, the Geographical Dictation was also taken on the move, but without using vehicles: the questions were answered while running. The original venue «Five Versts towards the Wind» was organized by the Republic of Buryatia Branch of the RGS.

Amateur athletes gathered for the educational event in Yubileyny Park in Ulan-Ude. They were not intimidated by the strong wind and the -20 °C cold, nor by the unusual conditions in which they had to take the Geographical Dictation. The participants of the event noted that wind in geography is both the driving force that filled the sails of the discoverers' ships and the powerful process of transforming nature, and geographers have always been excellent athletes, because without it it is difficult in any expedition.

The distance of the race, during which the participants of the event answered the Dictation questions, was 5.33 km. At the start, 14 athletes came out with tablets, to which they attached answer forms, and pencils, since ink simply freezes in such cold weather. A device for broadcasting the Geographical Dictation, made from a real backpack and a hiking laptop, was hung on the back of the first athlete. Just in case, the questions were duplicated by voice.

The unusual race attracted the attention of the townspeople, and some of them even joined the runners for a while. And of course, everyone learned about the importance of the educational campaign of the Russian Geographical Society. The athletes completed five laps along the central track of the park in 48 minutes, successfully answering questions. At the finish line, they were met by Endon Garmaev, Vice-President of the RGS, Chairman of the Republic of Buryatia Branch of the Russian Geographical Society. He congratulated everyone on the successful completion of the Geographical Dictation and presented certificates of participation, and Natalia Chernykh, the main organizer of the race, received an RGS membership card.

In total, there were 45 Geographical Dictation venues in the Republic of Buryatia, where more than 3,000 people were registered. The questions of the educational campaign of the RGS were answered in schools, military units, universities, museums, and other institutions.

In the Kurgan Region, powerful and spacious all-terrain vehicles «Burlak» have become one of the venues of the Geographical Dictation. Activists of the regional branch of the Russian Geographical Society and their friends set off on a journey along a new extreme route. They stopped to answer questions at the ancient guardian of the Kurgan land, Tsarsky Kurgan.

In addition to the film about the activities of the Russian Geographical Society and the video message from the crew of the International Space Station, the Geographical Dictation was preceded by an exciting blitz quiz prepared by Ilya Nikolaev, Chairman of the Kurgan Regional Branch of the RGS. Andrei Kocherov, Director of the Department of Education and Science of the Kurgan Region, and Aleksandr Zyryanov, Head of the Regional Department of Ecology and Subsoil Use, became honorary guests of the event.

The Branch of the RGS in the Republic of Karelia was also noted for its very unusual venue for the Geographical Dictation. It was organized by Vasily Pisarev, a member of the Russian Geographical Society and a member of the expedition on the schooner «El Dorado». Together with him, the crew of the vessel, which is currently located in the Drake Passage near Antarctica, answered the questions of the educational campaign. The message from the swimmers, recorded on video, was shown at 18 regional venues in Karelia.

In the Chechen Republic, the Geographical Dictation was taken in the spirit of the mountains — not in cramped classrooms, but on the vertical slopes of the Tersk Ridge, near the famous Kunakov Rock. The participants of the educational campaign of the RGS climbed the rock walls using safety lines, turning the mountain landscape into one of the most unusual knowledge testing grounds in the world.

The event brought together experienced climbers and ordinary nature lovers. Four daredevils, anchored high up, answered the Geographical Dictation questions with tablets in their hands, while the wind fluttered the taut ropes. The rest were located on more accessible ledges below, using ordinary stones as natural desks. In the true silence of the mountains, geography ceased to be just a science from textbooks, but became a tangible space, air, horizon, and a deep sense of one’s native land.

A special atmosphere for the event was created by one of the most active members of the republic branch of the RGS, the famous mountaineer and mountain hiking enthusiast Turpal Munashev. He established himself almost at the very top of the cliff and not only answered the Dictation questions, but also commented on what was happening, encouraging and energizing everyone with his enthusiasm.

After completing the Geographical Dictation and the climbers' descent, everyone gathered around the campfire, warmed their hands and shared their impressions over a cup of hot tea. It was a day that, according to the participants, you’ll want to remember for a long time. Such a day gives that deep feeling, for which it is worth living and rediscovering Russia.

«Today we have taken the Geographical Dictation in a landmark place for the Chechen Republic, the Tersk Ridge. We did not choose this place by chance — the famous writer Leo Tolstoy visited here when he visited the Caucasus. Why did our brave climbers decide to answer the Dictation questions in such an extreme format? We wanted to show once again that the geography of our wonderful country can be studied anywhere and in any way, and not just at the school desk. Conducting the Geographical Dictation on the harsh but beautiful rocks of the Tersk Ridge is the best way to arouse a keen interest in the native land, its beauties and riches. Here, knowledge is tested not only by logic, but also by the whole of nature. And I want to say thank you to everyone who was with us that day,» said Sayd-Emin Dzhabrailov, Chairman of the RGS Branch in the Chechen Republic.

In Dagestan, a truly unique venue was organized in the southernmost and most mountainous settlement of Russia, the village of Kurush. Under the shadow of the highest peak of the republic of Bazarduzu, the cheerful sounds of folk musical instruments — the zurna and the daldam drum — announced the beginning of the RGS event. They woke up the deep valley of the Chekhychai River, surrounded by kilometer-high steep walls of the Greater Caucasus Range.

The participants of the Geographical Dictation gathered at an altitude of 2.5 km above sea level in the guest house of the «Shalbuzdag» ranger station of Samursky National Park. Here, the questions of the RGS campaign were answered while standing above the clouds and admiring the mountain beauty. A small hall could accommodate 30 people and a mobile exhibition «The Golden Fund of the RGS». It is dedicated to the outstanding members of the RGS and their contribution to the development of new lands, the study of nature and culture of the peoples of Russia.

The ceremony was led by a professional tour guide and a well-known public figure of Dagestan, Shaperi Kurbanova. The venue was organized by the Derbent Branch of the RGS, headed by Chairman Amil Sarkarov, and the «Shalbuzdag» cluster, led by Chief Inspector Rizvan Bashirov. The messenger of the Geographical Dictation, the Local Historian Bear, also managed to get to the above-the-clouds Kurush.

The educational campaign of the Russian Geographical Society has turned into a real holiday thanks to a rich program. Employees of the Department of Culture of the Dokuzparinsky District prepared an exhibition of handicrafts and household items for the memorable day, accompanied by exciting musical performances. In addition, there were master classes in pottery and carpet-making, Dagestani crafts whose traditions go back to ancient times.

Yuri Yarovenko, Deputy Chairman of the Republic of Dagestan Branch of the RGS for Environmental Protection, Candidate of Biological Sciences, spoke about rare species of animals living in the local mountains. A graceful predator, the Central Asian leopard, or the Caucasian leopard, attracted the special attention of the participants of the Geographical Dictation. 

After answering the Geographical Dictation questions, the knowledge test continued. The participants of the program were waiting for a quiz about their native land with difficult tasks and prizes for erudite persons. In addition, everyone received gifts from the Dagestan Nature Reserve, which was one of the organizers of the venue. At the end of the day, there was a walk through the streets of Kurush and a visit to the ethnographic museum, a photo shoot against the backdrop of wonderful landscapes and general dancing to the sounds of zurna and drum.

«The geographical exceptionality of the surroundings of the village of Kurush was the reason for choosing this place as the first unique Geographical Dictation venue in Dagestan. But there are still a lot of impressive areas and unusual locations in our republic that will become unique venues for future Dictations,» said Raisama Sarkarova, Executive Director of the Dagestan Branch of the RGS.

Another high-altitude venue of the Geographical Dictation was the guest house «1950» in the village of Abaitikau in North Ossetia. The name doesn’t just contain numbers — it’s the exact height at which it is located. The participants of the RGS campaign had the opportunity to test their knowledge while enjoying panoramic views of the majestic landscapes of Tsey Gorge. Isn’t this the best way to truly experience the beauty of Russia’s nature?

Also in the republic, an educational campaign of the Russian Geographical Society was held at the Dzaujikau Hydroelectric Power Plant in Vladikavkaz. Here, «RusHydro» employees answered questions right at the workplace. The venue became an excellent example of theory meeting with practice — these people know firsthand about the power of water, controlling the flow of the turbulent Terek. Geography is a science that unites all: both romantics in the mountains, and hydroelectric power plant engineers.

In the Sverdlovsk Region, the Geographical Dictation brought together winter wizards from eight regions of Russia — from Udmurtia to Dagestan, from Penza to Irkutsk region. Here, Tol Babai, the Dagestani Father Frost, the Baikal Father Frost, the Snow Maiden from Kostroma, and other characters who came to the Ural Frost Birthday Festival at the «Park Skazov» family recreation center in the village of Aramil answered the questions of the RGS campaign. The messengers of the coming winter created a unique atmosphere of cultural unity and diversity, and also helped everyone to successfully test their knowledge.

«The Geographical Dictation on a visit to Father Frosts is more than a test of knowledge. This is a holiday that clearly shows the connection between the cultural heritage of the regions and their geography. Each fairy-tale hero brought a piece of their land here, and this made our current 'journey’ on the map of Russia truly magical,» said Olga Guryevskikh, Chairman of the Sverdlovsk Regional Branch of the RGS.

Aleksandr Zhirnov