MOSCOW, February 19. /TASS/. The Russian Geographical Society (RGS) organized the Khatanga. Heritage Exhibition, where visitors can see unique images of Russia's one of northernmost settlements. The photos and videos were made by volunteers who spent two years cleaning the village's coast from man-made waste, RGS's press service said.
In the Krasnoyarsk Region's north, including in Khatanga, huge amounts of technological waste have got accumulated since Soviet times - fuel barrels, remains of vehicles, rusty equipment. For ten years, the Russian Geographical Society has been supporting projects to clean up the Arctic from man-made pollution. Since 2022, its missions continue under the brand Arctic. General Cleanup. Volunteers have cleaned the Kildin Island and the Wrangel Island in Chukotka.
"The Khatanga. Heritage educational project, which the Russian Geographical Society launched on February 17, 2025, features a photo exhibition with interactive tours, a series of videos and podcasts," the press service said. "The project continues the Russian Geographical Society's Arctic. General Cleanup complex environmental expedition. We invite visitors to try on a polar explorer's down jacket, to learn how to get a lucky ticket to become an expedition member, and also to understand why after visiting the Arctic it is impossible not to fall in love with it."
For two years, RGS's teams were cleaning the village's coastline from piles of accumulated metal, and conducted scientific research and comprehensive restoration of the village's potential, the press service continued. The expeditions featured volunteers from Russia's different parts. The participants could choose what they would be doing: research, media or environment. The expeditions have collected more than 700 tons of industrial waste which has been transported for further recycling.
The expedition participants have brought a huge number of photographs and videos with views of the Russian Arctic, and they formed the exhibition. Four audio tours of the exposition are available on the project's website.
First two exhibitions with rare photographs opened in Moscow at the Peoples' Friendship University and in St. Petersburg at the University of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Additional expositions will open shortly in Moscow and the Moscow Region, as well as in Veliky Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod, Krasnoyarsk, Krasnodar and Nizhnevartovsk.
About Khatanga
Khatanga is Russia's one of the northernmost settlements, which can be reached only by sea or by air. The population is more than 2,000 people. In 2026, the settlement will celebrate its 400th anniversary.