Yes, you can go from Alaska to Russia. Alaska is situated in the extreme northwestern North America, bordering Canada on its east. In fact, they are much closer than you think. From Qatar, you then fly into Moscow. If you drive between Alaska and the continental United States, you will be looking at starting from the Alcan Border, Alaska. In 2006, Karl Bushby and his French American companion, Dimitri Kieffer, walked over the frozen Bering Strait in about 15 days. She swam between Big and Little Diomede Islands in 1987 as a Cold War-era peace gesture. 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. A TikTok user called laubandrew posted a video that explains just how you can actually walk from Alaska to. This is the distance between the Chukchi Peninsula in Russia and the Seward Peninsula of Alaska. [12], Although there are no icebergs in the Bering Strait, ice floes up to 1.8 meters (6ft) thick are in constant motion during certain seasons, which could produce forces on the order of 44 meganewtons (9,900,000 pounds-force; 4,500 tonnes-force) on a pier.[10]. Perhaps it's just easier to get an expedition cruise from Vladivostok in Russia to Anchorage in Alaska or one could just take a chartered flight. In 1987 American woman Lynne Cox became the first person to swim from Little Diomede to Big Diomede (thus from the USA to the USSR). Related: 20 Reasons Alaska Is Actually Worth Visiting (Despite Being The State No One Cares About). Up in the north, temperatures get extremely cold and destinations more remote. Alaska is only about 55 miles from Russia. You can follow her travels on Instagram at @theitinerantginger, Cabins In Seward | Lodging & Cabin Rentals, Anchorage To Valdez 30 Scenic Stops Along The Way, Surprising Bear Attack Statistics | Bear Attacks In Alaska, What Is Alaska Known For? Press J to jump to the feed. In 1942, the Foreign Policy Association envisioned the highway continuing to link with Nome near the Bering Strait, linked by highway to the railhead at Irkutsk, using an alternative sea-and-air ferry service across the Bering Strait. Whats The Longest River In North America? It is the biggest country in the world by area and encompasses one-eight of Earths inhabitable land mass. [clarification needed][12] In Lin's design, concrete covers all structures, to simplify maintenance and to offer additional stiffening. The Diomede Islands are located in the Chukchi Sea, which is part of the Arctic Ocean. You might remember Tina Feys impression of 2008 Vice Presidential candidate (and Alaskan!) In 2013, the Amur Yakutsk Mainline connecting the Yakutsk railway (2,800km or 1,700mi from the strait) with the Trans-Siberian Railway was completed. If we use this criterion, Alaska is closer to the continental US than Russia. You can measure the direct distance or measure the actual driving distance. Alaska and Russia are also divided by the International Date Line, which means that when it is Monday in Alaska, it is already Tuesday in Russia. There are two reported cases of humans walking from Alaska to Russia in modern history. You cannot be stamped for exit in Alaska and be given an entry visa to enter Russia. Apart from this, crossing Russia to Alaska without special permission is illegal. Though they aren't states, the U.S. controls multiple territories out in the Pacific Ocean that can get you much closer to Russia than anywhere in the continental United States. We also discuss if Alaska is closer to Russia than the United States and also if you can travel from Alaska directly to Russia. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. One was in 1998 where a Russian father and son managed to walk to Alaska, but very nearly died in the attempt. The strait is also subject to human migration theory, of how humans used Beringia to cross from Eurasia into North America as a land bridge. Your email address will not be published. The place to go to is, of course, Alaska. These seas are almost entirely frozen all year round. Fun stories about food, relationships, the great outdoors and more. 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. [10] At that time he made a feasibility study of a Bering Strait bridge and estimated the cost to be $1 billion for the 50-mile (80km) span. [20], The nearest major connecting highway is the M56 Kolyma Highway, which is currently unpaved and around 2,000 kilometers (1,200mi) from the strait. You can travel between Alaska and Russia, although the journey may be much further than possible. Map created using Google Maps. The short legal answer is no - unfortunately. From mainland Russia to mainland Alaska, the closest gap between them is only 55 miles (88KM). So, one can technically walk from Alaska to Russia during the seasonal sea ice. According to AlaskaCenters.gov , the distance between mainland Alaska and mainland Russia is merely 55 miles. I don't think you can do that from any European country. Andrea Romano is a freelance writer in New York City. Manage Settings "These islands are only two-and-a-half miles apart," the TikTok user said in the video. In Bering Strait, lies two small islands known as Big Diomede and Little Diomede. The Diomede Islands, which are located in the middle of the Bering Strait, are about 2.4 miles (4 kilometers) apart. If you calculate the distance between Anchorage and the continental USs largest northwestern city, Seattle, it would be 1448 miles (2330KM). Since there has been a gradual decrease in atmospheric interaction, the Bering Strait is almost completely ice-free. In the video, laubandrew notes the close proximity of two islands in the Bering Strait that mark the division between Russia and the United States. Not only is it possible to swim between Alaska and Russia, but several people have done it. Other attempts have ended with helicopter rescues. This is why they call Little Diomede 'Yesterdayland' and Big Diomede 'Tomorrowland,'" said the TikTok user. She was jointly congratulated by the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and President Ronald Reagan for helping thaw Cold War tensions. The distance from the mainland of Alaska to the Russian mainland across the Bering Strait is about 53 miles (85 kilometers). The islands are called Big Diomede and Little Diomede with Russia controlling Big Diomede, while Little Diomede is part of Alaska. If measured by direct distance, Alaska is closer to Russia. 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. WorldAtlas.org says there are 11 U.S. territories located in the Pacific Ocean. If you measure by direct distance, then Alaska is closer to Russia. The Diomede Islands have a significant cultural and historical significance for the indigenous peoples of the region, and they are also an important transportation corridor for marine and air traffic between Russia and the United States. You can technically see Russia from Alaska. But since they are parts of two different countries, the two islands are also in completely different time zones. Average direct flight time is 5 hours 45 minutes.. Debunking Common Myths On Vehicle Branding And Advertising, What Happens If You Put Gas In A Diesel Engine? You can also measure between capitals. Alaskas capital city is Anchorage, and some other of the larger cities in Alaska include Juneau and Fairbanks. One must enter and leave into an official port of call. They have no intention of allowing the Chinese to occupy America. Still, it shares a land border with Canada and a maritime border with Russia. Alaska and Russia are extremely close to one another. The largest, and most eastern settlement in Russia is Uelen, with a population of 720. Proposed in 2007, the plan included provisions to build a 103-kilometer (64mi) tunnel under the Bering Strait, which, if built, would become the longest tunnel in the world,[25] surpassing the 60-kilometer (37mi) Line 3 (Guangzhou Metro) tunnel. 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. 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. However, due to the gradual ongoing melt of the Chukchi Sea, it is nearly impossible to walk on the fragile sheet of ice. Can You Walk To Russia From Alaska? Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The narrowest distance between mainland Russia and mainland Alaska is approximately 55 miles (88.5 kilometres), according to alaskacenters.gov. Russia shares borders with fourteen countries. The distance between Mainland Alaska and Mainland Russia is about 55 miles at its narrowest distance. I first obtained these Russian plans for invasion back in 2013-2014. [14][15][16] In 2005, investor Neil Bush, younger brother of US President George W. Bush and son of President George H. W. Bush, traveled abroad with Sun Myung Moon of the Unification Church as he promoted a proposal to dig a transportation corridor beneath the Bering Strait. This means you need to travel a little further than expected. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. How much would a bridge from Alaska to Russia cost? Alaska does not have a physical border with any US states. This also means that there is no road, no immigration offices and no way to legally exit or enter any of the countries. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. This excludes the cost of new roads and railways to reach the bridge. Although, some have discussed building bridges to the two Bering Strait islands and then tunneling through the islands to connect them. If so, what are the chances that you could be apprehended by the military? It seems like Russia and Alaska should be far apart, but Russia is only 53 miles away from Alaska at their closest point. On the flip side, the distance is nearly 3,700 miles when measured from Alaska's southeastern border near Annette to the most . Do Pilots Actually Avoid Flying Over the Bermuda Triangle? You can, however, no longer use the land bridge . It is not currently possible to walk from Alaska to Russia. In 2012, a four-member South Korean expedition team reached the U.S. state of Alaska from Russias Chukotka Peninsula and crossed the Bering Strait on foot in six days. Long highways aren't a novel innovationone 30,000 mile one already . If you lived 10,000 years ago, you could have walked across using the land bridge that once connected the two lands. However, the ice is very thin and can easily break, so it is not recommended to try this journey. 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. The closest part of Russia to Alaska is the autonomous region of Chukotka. That's mostly because most Russians live in the European side of Russia, while the vast majority of Americans live in the Lower 48. Can you still walk from Alaska to Russia? This article discusses Russias distance from Alaska and other related questions you may have. However, this distance may only be theoretical and not practical in any way. And The Different Types Explained. Another reason why you can't ride or drive from Alaska to Russia is because there are no official immigration offices to check you in or out of the countries. The Bering Sea is one of the most dangerous patches of water for small craft in the world. By Julia Ainsley. However . Big Diomede island is only 2.5 miles (4KM) from Little Diomede island. This is where you can see Russia from Alaska. The islands are inhabited by native Alaskan Inuit communities, and are home to a small number of Russian and American military personnel who are stationed there. This allows you to look at the Big Diomede Island or Ratmanov Island. Offers may be subject to change without notice. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. It is located between the Chukchi Sea to the north and the Bering Sea to the south, and connects the Arctic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Russia and Alaska are divided by the Bering Strait, which is about 55 miles at its narrowest point. The land border of Alaska is connected to the Canadian territory of British Columbia and the Yukon Territory to the east. In 1994, Lin estimated the cost of a bridge to be "a few billion" dollars. Military bases are stationed at each island, which is a factor that could add to already difficult travel arrangements. [34], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}6547N 16901W / 65.783N 169.017W / 65.783; -169.017, "Bering Strait bridge" redirects here. The tides and currents in the area are not severe. Andrea Romano is a writer and editor in New York City. In recent modern history, there have been three recorded instances of humans successfully walking over the Bering Strait from Russia to Alaska. Some of Russias major cities include St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Kazan and Sochi. 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 . . We also tried to understand why Bering Strait no longer freezes over, making it impossible to walk on it. The narrowest distance between mainland Russia and mainland Alaska is approximately 55 miles. This is what we will be covering in this article. They took 21 days to ski across the Bering Strait and complete this expedition. "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. 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. Some people may approach the question of distance between Russia and Alaska by simply identifying the closest possible distance.