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Two islands so close that you can even walk between them in winter, but separated by an absurd time difference: 21 hours! The Diomede Islands, in the Bering Strait, divide not only two countries – the USA and Russia – but also yesterday and tomorrow.
Have you ever thought about being in a place where, just a few kilometers away, it is literally another day? It sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, right? But this really happens in the Diomede Islands, one of the most bizarre and fascinating places in the world.
These islands are in the middle of the Bering Strait, and the whole thing is made even crazier because one of them belongs to the United States and the other to Russia. But the big detail? The International Date Line passes right through the middle of them, which means that Big Diomede is 21 hours ahead of Little Diomede.
In other words, if you go from one to the other, you are basically traveling through time – going to the future or going back to the past. Surreal, right? No wonder they have been nicknamed “Yesterday’s Island” and “Tomorrow’s Island”.
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United States vs. Russia
But the time difference isn't the only thing separating these islands. In addition to time, they are also divided politically. Little Diomede is part of the United States, while Big Diomede belongs to Russia.
During the Cold War, this small stretch of sea became known as the “Ice Curtain.” This was because the Soviet Union used Greater Diomede as a strategic military base, and no one was allowed to get close to it. It was a real point of tension between the two world powers.
To this day, this separation is still evident. If an American wants to set foot on Big Diomede, he needs permission from Russia. And the same goes for a Russian who wants to go to Little Diomede. Even though it is so close, the barriers are enormous.
Life on the Islands
Living on any of these islands is not easy. The climate is incredibly cold, resources are scarce and life there is extremely isolated.
Little Diomede is still home to the Iñupiat, a native Alaskan people who have lived there for over four thousand years. They are masters of Arctic survival, hunting seals, walruses and even whales for food. Meanwhile, Big Diomede has no more permanent inhabitants – the Russians removed the population during the Cold War and turned the island into a military base.
Even with so many difficulties, the Iñupiat of Pequena Diomede remain steadfast, keeping their traditions and culture alive.
History of the Diomede Islands
The islands are named after Saint Diomedes, a Greek martyr. They were discovered by the Danish navigator Vitus Bering in 1728, on the day the Russian Orthodox Church celebrated the saint.
Then, in 1867, when the United States purchased Alaska from Russia, Little Diomede became part of American territory. Great Diomede, in turn, remained under Russian control.
In World War II and during the Cold War, the Great Diomede became a strategic location to the Russians, and the tension between the two sides on the island increased even further.
Hello, Rafaela.
This is very interesting. You did a good job. I think it would be good to talk about which island is east and which is west, because it's strange that we walk from Little Diomedes to Great Diomedes, heading west of the Earth, but we finally get to the east. Thanks a lot!
Ramón Álvarez from Caracas, Venezuela.