Yesterday And Tomorrow Islands: Russia’s Big Diomede Sits Closest To The U.S. Mainland Without A Land Border

Discover why Russia is the closest non-bordering country to the U.S. mainland. See distances across the Bering Strait, the Date Line split, and life on Little Diomede.

What makes these islands special?

• You can stand on Little Diomede (U.S.) and see Big Diomede (Russia).

• Only 3.8 kilometers separate the two islands.

• Russia’s Big Diomede is about 40 kilometers from mainland Alaska.

• Cape Dezhnev (Chukotka) and Cape Prince of Wales (Alaska) sit about 82 kilometers apart at the narrowest part of the Bering Strait.

Where did these numbers come from?

• VIIRS on the NASA-NOAA Suomi NPP satellite captured a wide view on June 2, 2017.

• Landsat 8 OLI captured a detailed view on June 6, 2017.

• These images show open water after seasonal ice retreat in June.

What is the “ice curtain”?

• It was a Cold War nickname for the tense passage between the islands.

• The maritime border runs through the water separating the two communities.

Who lives there?

• Little Diomede has a small permanent community.

• The 2010 U.S. census counted about 115 residents.

• Homes sit on the west side, facing Russia and Big Diomede.

How cold does it get?

• Summer averages: 40–50°F.

• Winter averages: 6–10°F.

• Sea ice from the Bering and Chukchi seas reaches into the strait each year.

Why “Yesterday” and “Tomorrow” islands?

• The International Date Line runs between them.

• When you look across from Little Diomede to Big Diomede, you look into the next calendar day.

Use this in your next quiz

• Which country is closest to the U.S. mainland without a land border? Russia.

• What two points mark the Bering Strait’s narrowest stretch? Cape Dezhnev and Cape Prince of Wales.

• How far apart are the Diomede Islands? About 3.8 km.

• Which island sits in the “next day”? Big Diomede.

Want to explore more?

• Map the four key distances: 3.8 km (island to island), 40 km (Big Diomede to Alaska mainland), 82 km (cape to cape), and your own location to the Bering Strait.

• Ask yourself: could you spot the other country with the naked eye on a clear day from your home?

• If you teach geography, turn these facts into a quick classroom challenge with distances on a blank map.