Diomede Island: US and Russian border

Both islands have a flat top, steep slopes and isolated location of the stormy seas. Standing fog covers the island during the warmer months, and in winter driving chunks of ice collide in open waters, forming an ice bridge connecting the two islands. At such times, you can almost walk between the United States and Russia. Of course, this can be done only in theory. The crossing of the Bering Strait by law are not allowed.



The islands were inhabited by Eskimos originally, another 3, 000 years ago. The first European to reach the islands - the Russian explorer Semyon Dezhnev in 1648. Eighty years later, the island was rediscovered, the Dane Vitus Bering August 16, 1728. The Russian Orthodox Church is a day of remembrance of the martyr Diomede.



When the United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867, the contract included the Little Diomedes. The new border was drawn between the two islands.



At that time, as Little Diomede has evolved into a small community with 75 inhabitants, the church and the school, Big Diomede became a Russian military base. After the Second World War, most of the population was moved to the mainland, but some still remain. Huskies Little Diomedes engaged in fishing and crab hunting for belugas, walruses, seals and polar bears. Products and mail is delivered by barge from the mainland.





Source: mirinteresno.mirtesen.ru