The Bizarre Geography of Russia

You won't believe how close Russia is to the U.S. 🇷🇺🇺🇸
Spoiler alert: it's shockingly close. Like... you could literally swim from one to the other. 🏊‍♂️

Most people imagine Russia and the United States as being on opposite sides of the globe - separated by vast oceans and political tension. But in reality, the two countries are just 2.4 miles (3.8 km) apart at their closest point. 🤯

Between Russia's Big Diomede Island and Alaska's Little Diomede Island, there's a tiny sliver of ocean known as the Bering Strait. On a clear day, you can actually SEE Russia from the U.S. - yes, really. Sarah Palin wasn't entirely wrong. 👀

Here's where it gets even wilder:
🌍 The Diomede Islands are only a few miles apart, but they sit on opposite sides of the International Date Line. That means when it's Monday on Little Diomede (USA), it's already Tuesday on Big Diomede (Russia).
They're often nicknamed "Tomorrow Island" (Russia) and "Yesterday Island" (USA) - and the ocean in between? Sometimes frozen in winter. So theoretically, you could walk across time. 😮⏳

Now here's the historical twist:
Before the Cold War, Native communities would travel between the islands freely. But after World War II, Russia closed off Big Diomede, evacuated its residents, and turned it into a military base. To this day, it remains uninhabited and off-limits to civilians.

Meanwhile, Little Diomede still has a tiny village of around 80 people - hardy souls living in one of the most remote and extreme environments on Earth. 🧊

So the U.S. and Russia may seem worlds apart in politics, culture, and ideology… but geographically? They're practically neighbors - separated by just a cold, narrow stretch of Arctic water.

Crazy, right?

If you thought Russia and the U.S. were far apart, this short might just change how you see the world. 🌐 Whether you're into geography, history, or just mind-blowing facts, this one's for you.

💬 Did you know about the Diomede Islands? Would you ever visit Little Diomede?
Let us know in the comments! And don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more content that will flip your worldview. 🌎

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