The Bering Strait, which divides Alaska from Russia, is only 55 miles at its narrowest. However, two islands in the middle of the strait — Big and Little Diomede, the former in Russia and the latter in Alaska — are less than 2.5 miles apart from each other.
Inhabitants of Little Diomede in Alaska can clearly see Big Diomede in Russia. If weather permits in the wintertime, the stretch of sea between the two islands freezes, and one can walk to Russia. This area, the Chukotka Autonomous Region in Russia, is a vast desolate area with 285,000 square miles, making it roughly the size of Texas, and it has a population of 55,000.
