The map above potentially shows one of the world's longest uninterrupted walks from Cape Town, South Africa to Magadan, Russia a distance of 22,387km (13,910 miles).. Google Maps estimates it would take 4,492 hours to walk it, which translates into 187 days of non-stop walking. Yes, You Can Actually See Russia from Alaska | Cond Nast Traveler $21.99 North America United States Alaska Getty News & Advice Yes, You Can Actually See Russia from Alaska In this week's. The westernmost of these islands, Big Diomede, is part of Russia, while the easternmost, Little Diomede, is part of the United States. The narrowest distance between mainland Russia and mainland Alaska is approximately 55 miles.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. The Russians fear a Chinese attack. However, this distance may only be theoretical and not practical in any way. They took 21 days to ski across the Bering Strait and complete this expedition. The last were Karl Bushby, and his American companion Dimitri Kieffer who in 2006 walked from Alaska to Russia over the Bering Straight in 14 days. [21] However, by 2042, the Anadyr Highway is expected to be completed connecting Ola and Anadyr, which is only about 600 kilometers (370mi) from the strait. Alaska is the largest state in the United States, more than twice the size of the USs second largest state, Texas. There is no permanent settlement on Big Diomede island, with only a weather station. 1 The Bering Strait Bridge Representational image The Bering Strait crossing is one way to move from Russia to Alaska that is 620 miles long. [33], China's Belt and Road Initiative has similar plans, so the project would work in parallel for both countries. If you were to run into trouble for any reason, you would be stuck out there without rescue. International travel is a lot simpler than it sounds. The place to go to is, of course, Alaska. AlaskaCenters.gov mentions that there are two islands in theBering Strait, which is the body of waterbetween Alaska and Russia. The Russian government will likely not grant any Westerners access anytime soon. This is because there are no immigration checkpoints between the Big and Little Diomede islands, which means you will be entering Russia illegally even if you can drive over the ice during winter. However, suppose you compare the closest distance possible. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts You can technically see Russia from Alaska. The Bering Strait is named after the Danish explorer Vitus Bering, who was the first European to sail through it in 1728. Alaska and Russia's Siberia can be seen from each other but crossing from one country to the other here is more difficult than one may think. Most of us care little about our cars. In that case, the Russian island of Big Diomede and the Alaska Little Diomede island are only 2.5 miles (4KM) wide from each other. "These islands are only two-and-a-half miles apart, which means that in the winter when the water freezes, you can walk from the United States to Russia in only 20 minutes," Andrew explained. The largest easternmost city in Russia in Vladivostok. Russia uses the slightly broader Russian gauge of 1520mm. This article discusses Russias distance from Alaska and other related questions you may have. In 1998, Russian Arctic explorer Dmitry Shparo and his son Matvey became the first recorded humans to successfully cross the Bering Strait from Uelen in Russia to Cape Thompson, Alaska. Oct. 6, 2022, 12:58 PM PDT. The two land masses are separated by the Bering Strait , but scholars have theorized that this area was once a "land bridge" that connected the continents of Asia and North America. But the longer answer is that is it extremely difficult and dangerous but it has been down - by hiking, swimming, and rowing. "To make matters even crazier, Big Diomede Island is 21 hours ahead of Little Diomede Island," he continued while he pulled up photos of the two islands. To Russias north lies the Arctic sea and its array of seas. The islands are called Big Diomede and Little Diomede with Russia controlling Big Diomede, while Little Diomede is part of Alaska. Can you see Alaska from Russia? Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. Manage Settings You can measure the direct distance or measure the actual driving distance. ALASKA NO LONGER REQUIRING TRAVELERS TO PRESENT NEGATIVE COVID-19 TEST UPON ARRIVAL Big Diomede is an 11.2-square-mile island that is a part of Russia and Little Diomede is a 2.8-square-mile. The distance between these islands is about 2.5 miles. However, it would be possible to walk between the two countries if you start from the westernmost point of the mainland of Alaska and walk to the easternmost point of the Russian mainland. The closest part of Russia to Alaska is the autonomous region of Chukotka. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. On the flip side, the distance is nearly 3,700 miles when measured from Alaska's southeastern border near Annette to the most . The names used for them include "The Intercontinental Peace Bridge" and "EurasiaAmerica Transport Link". Lets dive deeper into this topic to know more. Photo: Jerry Lamont. A new user to TikTok has gone viral for saying theres a way to walk to Russia from the U.S. Laub Andrew made his TikTok debut with a "geography lesson" on Feb. 22, which shows the two Diomede Islands out in the Bering Strait. (Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2018/Gallo Images/Getty Images). Cortney Moore is an associate lifestyle writer on the Lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Russia and Alaska are divided by the Bering Strait, which is about 55 miles at its narrowest point. This is what we will be covering in this article. The concept of an overland connection crossing the Bering Strait goes back before the 20th century. If you drive between Alaska and the continental United States, you will be looking at starting from the Alcan Border, Alaska. My name is Jeyn Dashner and I am the founder of WanderFever. The stretch of water between the two closest points from Alaska to Russia is about 2.5 miles. How far is Russia from Alaska by plane? It would link London and New York by rail and superhighway via Russia if it were to go ahead. A TikTok user called laubandrew posted a video that explains just how you can actually walk from Alaska to Russia. Big Diomede is an 11.2-square-mile island that is a part of Russia and Little Diomede is a 2.8-square-mile island that is a part of Alaska. (Guide), What Do 60 Degrees Feel Like? That's not all too. Can You Walk To Russia From Alaska? First is the thickness of the ice. The distance may take around 33 hours of driving to cover, so you will need to dedicate multiple days to make the journey. Although, it's probably not recommended to walk to these islands. This would mean that construction work would likely be restricted to five months of the year, around May to September, and centered during summer. [10] Ten years later he organized the Inter-Continental Peace Bridge, Inc., a non-profit institution organized to further this proposal. Cox is the most notable of them all. A Bering Strait crossing is a hypothetical bridge or tunnel that would span the relatively narrow and shallow Bering Strait between the Chukotka Peninsula in Russia and the Seward Peninsula in the U.S. state of Alaska.The crossing would provide a connection linking the Americas and Eurasia.. With the two Diomede Islands between the peninsulas, the Bering Strait could be spanned by a bridge or . Can You Walk From USA To Russia? 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. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. The distance between the closest points from Alaska to Russia is about 2.5 miles. There are two reported cases of humans walking from Alaska to Russia in modern history. I have worked as a travel journalist for many years, and exploring new places is my greatest pleasure in life. Also, buy a map in order to verify this information. The distance from the mainland of Alaska to the Russian mainland across the Bering Strait is about 53 miles (85 kilometers). Fly, or float are your two options. No, because there is not a single stretch of land connecting the two countries, although Russia is visible from Alaska. Within two weeks, Andrews video has racked up more than 1.1 million likes, more than 39,700 shares and 7,900 comments. It is not possible to see continental Russia from Alaska across the open ocean. Historical records show indigenous groups used these frozen routes to travel between the two islands. Many people may not realize just how close the United States is to Russia. In the middle of the Bering Strait are two small, sparsely populated islands: Big. [27] The cost was estimated as $66 billion. Some people may approach the question of distance between Russia and Alaska by simply identifying the closest possible distance. [10], The route is just south of the Arctic Circle, and the location has long, dark winters and extreme weather, including average winter lows of 20C (4F) and temperatures approaching 50C (58F) in cold snaps. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. There is no bridge or tunnel connecting Alaska and Russia, so truly, the only way to travel between the two is by boat or plane. The air travel (bird fly) shortest distance between Russia and Alaska is 4,746 km= 2,949 miles. In fact, during winter, the seas around the islands turn into ice, meaning you can actually walk from Alaska to Russia. The Bering Strait is also an important transportation corridor, with several ports on both the Russian and American sides of the strait. The ice in the Bering Sea forms when the cold winds over the Chukchi Sea come blasting down from the north. You can see Russia from Alaska. They say do what you love, and she is lucky enough to do so! In the other direction, the distance from Cape Alva in Washington state the city farthest west in the U.S. to Anadyr, Russia, which according to RussiaTrek, is the easternmost city in Russia, is about2,515 miles away. But if one does do it, be sure to learn some essential Russian phrases before going! Bering Strait freezes because of the atmospheric interaction direction and speed of the wind and the air temperature over the water. It separates North America from Asia at its narrowest point. The two countries are separated by the Bering Strait, which is a long 55 miles wide at its narrowest point. During the colder months, ice forms between the two so technically you could walk to Russia! Market data provided by Factset. This is because you need to leave Alaska from any point of exit with immigration and then enter Russia from any point of entry with immigration. The narrowest distance between mainland Russia and mainland Alaska is approximately 55 miles (88.5 kilometres), according to alaskacenters.gov. Alaska and Russia are extremely close to one another. Although they are in close proximity to each other, the walk isn't quite so solid getting from the mainlands to the islands, especially in the dead of winter. With the two Diomede Islands between the peninsulas, the Bering Strait could be spanned by a bridge or tunnel. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. It is the biggest country in the world by area and encompasses one-eight of Earths inhabitable land mass. Don't forget to Like , share , Subscribe our channel.You will get interesting facts related videos in this channel.Follow us on Instagram - https://www.insta. The distance is close enough that you can even walk from Russia to Alaska during winter. This makes matters even worse as it is the last closed part of Russia to foreigners. These border countries are on the west, southwest, southeast, and southeastern part of Russia. Martin on the Yukon River, on the way to Russia. Fun stories about food, relationships, the great outdoors and more. This view of the Russian island of Big Diomede from Alaska shows the two islands are a short distance away. There have only been two such reported crossings. The bridge would also likely be divided by the Diomede Islands, which are at the middle of the Bering Strait. This is due to the customs and immigration processing requirements on both the US and Russian sides. The Man Who Tried to Walk from Alaska to China. Obviously there was a land bridge in the Ice Age, and I imagine ice could have completely filled it in the Little Ice Age. If you measure the distance between these two, the distance is only 2.5 miles (4KM) from each other. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. #funfacts #usa #russia - YouTube Skip navigation Sign in it can freeze over and allow for travel with the shortest distance being JUST 2.4 MILES.. Alaskas capital city is Anchorage, and some other of the larger cities in Alaska include Juneau and Fairbanks. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2521 E Mountain Village Dr Ste B #780Wasilla, AK 99654, Copyright 2023 - The Alaska Frontier - All Rights Reserved, After living over 14 years in Alaska, Megan McDonald can confidently state that theres not much of the state on the road system that she hasnt visited. But due to the treacherous surface, it usually takes over two weeks to cross the frozen Bering Strait. Perhaps one of the more well-known territories out there is Guam. The closest official port to the Bering Strait in Russia is Providenia. The distance between Mainland Alaska and Mainland Russia is about 55 miles at its narrowest distance. [23], In 2016, the Alaskan road network was extended westwards by 50 miles (80km) to Tanana, 460 miles (740km) from the strait, by building a fairly simple road. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! On the other side are also only incredibly remote parts of Russia. Not only is it possible to swim between Alaska and Russia, but several people have done it. (Scam Or Not), Is Hawaii Considered International? However, people who were looking forward to traveling to Russia on foot will likely be disappointed to know the water between the two islands has not frozen in years due to climate change. I first obtained these Russian plans for invasion back in 2013-2014. Average direct flight time is 5 hours 45 minutes.. The first island is called Big Diomede, which is 25 miles off the coast of Russia, and the second island is called Little Diomede, which is about 16 miles off the coast of Alaska. Map created using Google Maps. Additionally, the Bering Strait has intense currents, cold water, and very choppy seas. Still, it is somehow more connected geographically to other countries, such as Canada or Russia. He can be reached on Instagram at aaronspray. In 1994, Lin estimated the cost of a bridge to be "a few billion" dollars. Bering Strait, also known as the gateway to the Artic, is a marine gateway located between Alaska and Russia. Continue with Recommended Cookies. The current Native Village of Diomede in Little Diomede, Alaska is home to the Ingalikmiut Eskimo village. In 1987, long distance swimmer Lynne Cox swam from one island to the other in about two hours, although this was in the middle of August. All rights reserved. And it is the home of the port of Providenia. The stretch of water between the two closest points from Alaska to Russia is about 2.5 miles. The Bering Strait is about 55 miles (90 kilometers) wide at its narrowest point and about 86 miles (138 kilometers) wide at its widest point. The Bering Strait tunnel will cost $10 billion to $12 billion and the rest of the investment will be spent on the entire transport corridor, the plan estimates. The leading independent voice for aviation news and insight. 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. Travel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. In 2015, another possible collaboration between China and Russia was reported, part of the Trans-Eurasian Belt Development, a transportation corridor across Siberia that would also include a road bridge with gas and oil pipelines between the easternmost point of Siberia and the westernmost point of Alaska. . So technically, you can jump from one ice chunk to another, but it is still as dangerous. [13] The project would include a tunnel under the Bering Strait and connect to the contiguous United States via Wales, Alaska, along the river to Fairbanks, Alaska, and along the Alaska Highway to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. That is because Alaska is closer to these countries. . You may theoretically drive from Russia from Alaska, although it may not be doable in a real situation. The westernmost of these islands, Big Diomede, is part of Russia, while the easternmost, Little Diomede, is part of the United States. Bering Strait starts freezing over in the fall, and by March every year, it is covered in a thick sheet of ice. The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities project was supported by local indigenous groups such as the Tanana Tribal Council.[24]. This means you need to travel a little further than expected. Its population is said to include 88 people and COVID-19 tests are available to anyone in the region, according to the Norton Sound Health Corporation. Alaska is one of those interesting places where it is part of the United States. This is because humans usually travel between the two cities, which makes it suitable as a measurement. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER. Theoretically speaking, you may be able to drive from Russia to Alaska. Those two islands are only 2.5 miles away from one another, so on a clear day, you could likely see one island from the other. The Diomede Islands are located in the Chukchi Sea, which is part of the Arctic Ocean. One can only try to walk over during the polar night so the ice does not melt. This is because the distance between the Big and Little Diomedes is only 2.5 miles (4KM). To see Russia from Alaska, simply climb up to the highest point of the Little Diomede island, about 919 feet (280M). Top 12 Things People Know Of AK, Alaskas Pika Township & Marmot Village | A Truly Rare Hike. [26] They estimated it could carry about 3% of global freight and make about $7 billion a year. An adventurer wishing to kayak, swim, walk over the ice, or sail from Alaska to Siberia across the Bering Strait would have to do so illegally. Some of Russias major cities include St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Kazan and Sochi. What is the name of the bridge between Russia and Alaska? No railways exist for over 3,200 kilometers (2,000mi) in any direction from the strait. . The theory believes that the Bering Strait was dry land during the ice age, allowing prehistoric humans and animals to physically migrate to North America. I can see Russia from my house! Those words caused a stir and people started to really wonder if you can see Russia from Alaska? The Diomede Islands in the Bering Strait are separated by the International Date Line with Russia's Big Diomede Island being 21 hours ahead of Alaska's Little Diomede. The islands are not easily accessible, as they can only be reached by boat or plane, and there are no regular commercial flights or ferry services to the islands. She swam between Big and Little Diomede Islands in 1987 as a Cold War-era peace gesture. However, it would be extremely difficult to do so because of the harsh geographical and environmental conditions. The name of the body of water between Russia and Alaska is the Bering Strait. You then enter Russia by passing through their immigration checkpoint and getting a visa stamped on your passport. It is not advisable to walk from Alaska to Russia. You can physically take a boat from Alaska to Russia; however, it's not safe. Otherwise, if one would like to cross legally it is very very difficult. WITH PROOF OF COVID-19 VACCINES, ICELAND ALLOWING RESIDENTS TO SKIP QUARANTINE. We will also go over how far the closest points of Alaska and Russia are, and how long would it take to cross the strait. This is very difficult. How far is Russia from the US? [12] Discovery Channel's Extreme Engineering estimates the cost of a highway, electrified double-track high-speed rail, and pipelines at $105 billion (in 2007 US dollars), five times the original cost of the 1994 50-kilometer (31mi) Channel Tunnel.[19]. When measured, the distance between mainland Russia to mainland Alaska is around 55 miles (88KM). But is it still possible to walk from Alaska to Russia on foot? naql from Kodiak, AK, US/Wikimedia Commons. It is the marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean that is responsible for Bering Strait freezing over and forming a thick sheet of ice. In 2006, two people were last recorded to cross the Bering Strait in around 14 days. Two years later, Joseph Strauss, who went on to design over 400 bridges, and then serve as the project engineer for the Golden Gate Bridge, put forward the first proposal for a Bering Strait rail bridge in his senior thesis. WorldAtlas.org says there are 11 U.S. territories located in the Pacific Ocean. This air travel distance is equal to 2,949 miles. You can even walk to Russia during winter. Thus, even less time for Bering strait to have the chance to freeze over and be covered in a thick sheet of ice. The men made the treacherous, 300-mile journey from Egvekinot, Russia to the sleepy Alaskan island of St. Lawrence to avoid fighting in the nation's brutal war against Ukraine, the office of Sen . A project to connect Nome, 100 miles (160km) from the strait, to the rest of Alaska by a paved highway (part of Alaska Route 2) has been proposed by the Alaskan state government, although the very high cost ($2.3 to $2.7 billion, about $5 million per mile, or $3 million per kilometer) has so far prevented construction. That's mostly because most Russians live in the European side of Russia, while the vast majority of Americans live in the Lower 48. But they have never crossed over by foot on the ice. However, due to the gradual ongoing melt of the Chukchi Sea, it is nearly impossible to walk on the fragile sheet of ice. These are in the middle of the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia's Siberia and are only 2.2 miles or 3.5 kilometers from each other. [4], In 1904, a syndicate of American railroad magnates proposed (through a French spokesman) a SiberianAlaskan railroad from Cape Prince of Wales in Alaska through a tunnel under the Bering Strait and across northeastern Siberia to Irkutsk via Cape Dezhnev, Verkhnekolymsk, and Yakutsk (around 5,000km (3,100mi) of railroad to build, plus over 3,000km (1,900mi) in North America). [9] At the same time the road on the Russian side was extended by building the 2000-kilometer (1250 mi) Kolyma Highway. [12] The roads and railways on each side were estimated to cost $50 billion. They have no intention of allowing the Chinese to occupy America. It shares land borders with over 14 countries. We will not be discussing the history of who crossed this strait but will discuss if the Bering Strait still freezes over to cross them. This is why they call Little Diomede island Yesterdayland and Big Diomede Tomorrowland. In the picture below you can actually see the Diomede Islands, which from this vantage point the bigger island is actually Russia. According to AlaskaCenters.gov , the distance between mainland Alaska and mainland Russia is merely 55 miles. Secondly is the lack of immigration checkpoints. Press J to jump to the feed. [18], The depth of the water is a minor problem, as the strait is no deeper than 55 meters (180ft),[12] comparable to the English Channel. The satellite images from the 2021 winter indicate that the warming Arctic temperature is to blame. The mainlands were separated by the Bering Strait. Russia shares borders with fourteen countries. In 1958, engineer Tung-Yen Lin suggested the construction of a bridge across the Bering Strait "to foster commerce and understanding between the people of the United States and the Soviet Union". Closed doesn't mean foreigners can't go there, but it does mean that more permissions are required, free travel is not allowed, and strict protocols must be followed when one gets there. Although, some have discussed building bridges to the two Bering Strait islands and then tunneling through the islands to connect them. Russia is the biggest country by size in the world and spans from eastern Europe to Northeast Asia. Not only is it necessary to arrive in Russia in an official port of call, but it is also necessary to depart from an official port of call. From the Brooks Range to McCarthy, Homer, and everywhere in between, every nook and cranny of Alaska is her always her new favorite place. Can you still walk from Alaska to Russia? Second, you can also consider between major cities, and finally, between the capitals. The water in the Bering Strait is very shallow, with an average depth of just 50 feet (15 meters). If we use this criterion, Alaska is closer to the continental US than Russia. or redistributed. For inquires contact us at editor@beinghuman.org. The ice is quite treacherous but crossing it over foot has been reportedly done twice. Can you swim to Russia from Alaska? How cold is the water in the Bering Strait? Several American entrepreneurs have also advanced private-sector proposals, such as an Alaska-based limited-liability company founded in 2010 to lobby for a cross-straits connection, and a 2018 cryptocurrency offering to fund the construction of a tunnel.