 |
| Diomede Islands, Witnessing The Past and Future in The Middle of The Bering Strait |
In the middle of the Bering Strait, which separates Siberia and Alaska, there are two small islands known as the Diomede Islands. Here, we can witness the future and the past without needing a time machine. This is not a work of science fiction, but a reality! The Diomede Islands provide us with a unique experience of standing at a crossroads of time, taking us to a world where time seems to stand still.
Two Islands, Two Countries, Two Times
The Diomede Islands, known as the Gvozdev Islands in Russia, consist of two islands owned by two different countries, Russia and the United States. Big Diomede Island is part of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug region of Russia, while Little Diomede Island falls within the territory of the State of Alaska, USA. The two islands are only separated by a distance of 3.8 km. Little Diomede Island is also known as Krusenstern Island, while Big Diomede Island is known as Ratmanov Island or Nunarbuk Island.
 |
| Little Diomede Island |
Fascinating Time Difference
Interestingly, these two islands are separated by the International Date Line, causing the time on each island to differ by almost a day, precisely 21 hours or 20 hours during daylight saving time. Time on Big Diomede Island runs 21 hours ahead of Little Diomede Island. This means that if it is Sunday at 9 a.m. on Little Diomede Island, it is already Monday at 6 a.m. on Big Diomede Island.
Gazing into the Past and Future
Due to this time difference, Big Diomede Island is often referred to as the Island of Tomorrow, while Little Diomede Island is called the Island of Yesterday. When standing on Little Diomede Island and looking towards Big Diomede Island, one is essentially looking into tomorrow. Conversely, when on Big Diomede Island and looking towards Little Diomede Island, one is looking back into yesterday.
 |
| Little Diomede Island |
History and Inhabitants
Initially inhabited by the Inupiaq Eskimo people or the Inupiat tribe of Alaska, both islands were eventually home to Russian military installations. Presently, Big Diomede Island houses only a Weather Station and the headquarters of the Russian border guards. In contrast, Little Diomede Island continues to have local residents allowed by the U.S. government to reside on the island. Although the population is small, the island features a school, stores, a heliport, and a runway for small aircraft.
 |
| Big Diomede Island |
Discovery and Naming
On August 16, 1728, a Russian expedition led by the Danish navigator Vitus Bering arrived at the Diomede Islands. Vitus Bering named these islands the Diomede Islands in honor of Saint Diomedes, a Greek saint. In 1732, Mikhail Gvozdev, a Russian geodesist, determined the longitude and latitude lines for both islands.
As a result, in Russia, the Diomede Islands are more commonly known as the Gvozdev Islands in honor of Mikhail Gvozdev. In the agreement for the sale of Alaska from Russia to the USA in 1867, these islands were designated as the boundary between the two countries, with Big Diomede Island marking the Russian territory border and Little Diomede Island marking the U.S. territory border.
Unique Tourism at the Crossroads of Time
The Diomede Islands are a unique place in the world where we can witness the past and future without a time machine. With a rich history and intriguing time difference, the islands offer an experience that cannot be found elsewhere. Therefore, it would be a missed opportunity not to visit the Diomede Islands and feel the sensation of standing at a crossroads of time.
0 Comments