Due to time zones, two islands that are just a short, chilly stretch of sea away are really separated by nearly a whole day.
The Diomede Islands
Between Siberia and mainland Alaska, the Diomede Islands are situated in the Bering Strait. The Chukchi Sea is to the north, while the Bering Sea lies to the south.
Although Fairway Rock, 9.3 kilometers (5.8 miles) to the southeast, is likewise an Alaskan territory, it is not typically considered a part of the Diomede Islands. These islands are the farthest north in the whole Pacific Ocean if marginal waters are taken into account.
The distant islands of Big and Little Diomede are where you can actually travel across time, despite your doubts about how it’s feasible.
They are situated in the Bering Strait, which separates the US State of Alaska from the Russian region of Siberia, at the top of the planet, therefore bring a huge coat.
The distance between Big Diomede on the Russian side and Little Diomede on the US side is less than three miles, yet because of the International Date Line, there is a time zone difference of 21 hours (or 20 hours at certain times of the year) between the two remote islands.
The International Date Line, a hypothetical line that cuts a zigzag course over the Pacific Ocean, establishes the boundary between one day and the next.
As a result, despite the fact that only a small body of water separates them, Big Diomede is nearly a full day ahead of Little Diomede.
Given that the water freezes over during the winter in the Northern Hemisphere, it could nearly be feasible to travel between the two of them.
At other periods of the year, it could even be able to row or swim backward or forwards from one day to the next.
When you get there, will you be jet lagged? That is a foolish proposal, I admit.
To be honest, it would be foolish to try to bridge the distance considering that it is forbidden to go between the two islands because you would be entering Russian territory rather than American territory.
Famously, you would never want to cross the border, at least not without the necessary authorizations.
Additionally, Big Diomede has no inhabitants at all, so if you went from the USA to Russia, you would have very little reason to remain there.
According to the most recent statistics, Little Diomede is home to some individuals, with an estimated 110 persons residing there.
The Greek saint Diomede, who lived in the third and fourth century, is the source of the islands’ name.
The Danish-Russian sailor Vitus Bering, who also gave the Bering Strait its name, found them on August 16, 1728, and gave them their name.
You guessed it: Saint Diomede is honored on that day in the Russian Orthodox Christian calendar.
The majority of individuals would never be able to go between the two islands, although American swimmer Lynne Cox managed to do it in August 1987 through the chilly seas.
Even though it was only 2.7 miles, it must have required tremendous endurance and daring to accomplish that achievement.
Instead of submerging oneself in ice water and experiencing this oddity for yourself, it would be preferable to simply be aware that it exists.