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.
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You can stand on Little Diomede (U.S.) and see Big Diomede (Russia).
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Only 3.8 kilometers separate the two islands.
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Russia’s Big Diomede is about 40 kilometers from mainland Alaska.
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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?
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VIIRS on the NASA-NOAA Suomi NPP satellite captured a wide view on June 2, 2017.
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Landsat 8 OLI captured a detailed view on June 6, 2017.
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These images show open water after seasonal ice retreat in June.
What is the “ice curtain”?
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It was a Cold War nickname for the tense passage between the islands.
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The maritime border runs through the water separating the two communities.
Who lives there?
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Little Diomede has a small permanent community.
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The 2010 U.S. census counted about 115 residents.
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Homes sit on the west side, facing Russia and Big Diomede.
How cold does it get?
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Summer averages: 40–50°F.
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Winter averages: 6–10°F.
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Sea ice from the Bering and Chukchi seas reaches into the strait each year.
Why “Yesterday” and “Tomorrow” islands?
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The International Date Line runs between them.
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When you look across from Little Diomede to Big Diomede, you look into the next calendar day.
Use this in your next quiz
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Which country is closest to the U.S. mainland without a land border? Russia.
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What two points mark the Bering Strait’s narrowest stretch? Cape Dezhnev and Cape Prince of Wales.
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How far apart are the Diomede Islands? About 3.8 km.
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Which island sits in the “next day”? Big Diomede.
Want to explore more?
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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.
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Ask yourself: could you spot the other country with the naked eye on a clear day from your home?
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If you teach geography, turn these facts into a quick classroom challenge with distances on a blank map.
