How close are the Diomede Islands?
Rachel Ellis
Published Jan 14, 2026
Diomede Islands, Russian Ostrova Gvozdeva, two small islands in the Bering Strait, lying about 2.5 miles (4 km) apart and separated by the U.S.–Russian boundary, which coincides with the International Date Line.Diomede Islands, Russian Ostrova Gvozdeva, two small islands in the Bering Strait It includes the Chukchi Sea, the Bering Sea, the Bering Strait, the Chukchi and Kamchatka Peninsulas in Russia as well as Alaska in the United States and the Yukon in Canada. The area includes land lying on the North American Plate and Siberian land east of the Chersky Range. › wiki › Beringia
Can you walk between the Diomede Islands?
Big Diomede is a 29sq km island that is a part of Russia and Little Diomede is a 7.2sq km island that is part of Alaska. “These islands are only two-and-a-half miles (4km) apart, which means that in the winter when the water freezes, you can walk from the United States to Russia in only 20 minutes,” he explained.
How far apart are the Diomede Islands?
The distance between the two countries is actually much smaller. Just 3.8 kilometers (2.4 miles) separate Big Diomede Island (Russia) and Little Diomede Island (U.S.). The island pair is visible in the detailed image, acquired on June 6, 2017, by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8.
Does anyone live on Big Diomede?
Today, unlike Alaska's neighboring Little Diomede Island, it has no permanent native population, but it is the site of a Russian weather station and a base of Border Service of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation troops (FSB).
Can you visit Little Diomede?
In the past, Bering Air operated regular flights to Little Diomede only a few months of each year. The only runway available at the village was one plowed into the frozen sea ice. When the sea ice thaws, Diomede is only accessible by boat and helicopter.
15 related questions foundWho lives on Diomede island?
It has no permanent population but is the site of an important Russian weather station. To the east lies Little Diomede Island, a part of Alaska, inhabited by Chukchi people who are skilled seamen. The islands' first European visitor was the Danish navigator Vitus Jonassen Bering on Aug.
Can you stay on Diomede island?
I stayed at the school in Diomede (on a gym mat) for a fee and it's possible to do a home stay. Google Kawerak-Diomede (regional tribal consortium) and you'll find their site with e-mail and phone number. They will advise you on who the best contact is to set up a stay.
Who owns Little Diomede Island?
Interestingly enough, Big Diomede is owned by Russia while Little Diomede is owned by the US. The stretch of water between these two islands is only about 2.5 miles wide and actually freezes over during the winter so you could technically walk from the US to Russia on this seasonal sea ice.
What is unique about Little Diomede?
The Little Diomede island is composed of Cretaceous age granite or quartz monzonite. The location of the city is the only area which does not have near-vertical cliffs to the water.
Can you see Russia from Diomede?
Well, Little Diomede Island is, in fact, the only place in Alaska where you can actually see Russia from your front door.
How big are the Diomede Islands?
Covering an area of 29 km2, Big Diomede Island is situated about 45 km southeast of Cape Dezhnev on the Chukchi Peninsula. The island's highest point rises to an elevation of 477 m.
Can you actually see Russia from Alaska?
In this week's Maphead, Ken Jennings explores the tiny outpost of Alaska that really can see Russia from its backyard.
What is the closest Russian city to Alaska?
The tiny coastal Alaskan frontier town of Nome, created around a century earlier in a gold rush, reached out across the waves to Provideniya, the nearest Soviet port.
Can Americans go to Big Diomede?
It is physically possible to reach the USA from here, but there is no scheduled transport, and Little Diomede has no customs or immigration facilities.
Can you walk Big Diomede and Little Diomede?
During winter, an ice bridge usually spans the distance between these two islands; therefore during such times it is theoretically possible (although not legal, since travel between the two islands is forbidden) to walk between the United States and Russia.
How do people live on Little Diomede?
Little Diomede Eskimos live a subsistence lifestyle, harvesting fish and crab, hunting beluga whales, walrus, seals and polar bears. Almost every part of the animal is used for food, for clothing, mukluks, even boats. Locals are known for their ivory carving. A few residents work for the local government or school.
How do I get to Little Diomede?
The more "usual" ways of getting to Little Diomede include:
- Bering Air flies from Nome in the winter. Planes land on the ice.
- Evergreen Helicopters fly to the island all year from Nome.
Does the Bering Strait freeze over?
For those unfamiliar with this part of the world, the Bering Strait sits between Alaska and Russia, with just 55 miles (88 km) separating North America from Asia at its narrowest point. Typically, this waterway begins freezing over in the fall and by March each year it is covered in a thick sheet of ice.
What is there to do in Diomede?
Essential Little Diomede
- Carrie M. McLain Memorial Museum. History Museums.
- Maruskiya's. Speciality & Gift Shops.
- Katirvik Cultural Center. History Museums.
- White Alice Site. Historic Sites.
Who owned Alaska before Russia?
Russia controlled most of the area that is now Alaska from the late 1700s until 1867, when it was purchased by U.S. Secretary of State William Seward for $7.2 million, or about two cents an acre. During World War II, the Japanese occupied two Alaskan islands, Attu and Kiska, for 15 months.
Why did Russia sell Alaska?
1) Alaska Was Hard to Defend
After being defeated by the British in the Crimean War, the Russians needed funds to protect themselves in the future. Russia feared that Alaska would be easily captured in any future battle with the British therefore Emperor Alexander II opted to sell the colony.
Why does Alaska not belong to Canada?
There are two main reasons. First, Canada wasn't its own country in 1867. Second, Great Britain controlled the Canadian colonies. Russia did not want to sell Alaska to its rival.
Can you take a boat from Alaska to Russia?
There is no ferry line operating between Alaska and Russia that takes passengers on board. The only way for you to get across with a vehicle is to ship or fly it across the ocean.
