Curious islands, there are many. An example of this is Tistan de Acuña, a very remote island that, although inhabited, is almost impossible to reach. Another is the island that England and the USA captured 60 years ago and where secrecy reigns. Although special, none compare to the Diomedes Islands.

It is a small dot on the map located on the border of Alaska and Siberia, and the most curious thing is that although you can walk from one to the other when the sea is frozen, When we cross the border we will have gained or lost 21 hours. Come on, “we can travel in time” and they are the heroes of the video along these lines, prepared by my colleague Ana Boria.

Diomedes

First things first: Diomedes is an island of two located in the Bering Strait. Or the same: between Russia and the USA. They are less than four kilometers apart, but there is a significant geopolitical barrier: The largest, Imaklik, belongs to Russia. The youngest, Inalik, is American.

In winter, when the sea freezes, it is possible to walk from one to the other. However, it is not recommended because it poses a physical danger and is completely illegal.

These two central islands? Well these

Historically, Diomedes was home to indigenous communities. They were whalers who traded with neighboring peoples of both Alaska and Siberia, and in 1867 the fortunes of the islands changed. USA bought Alaska from Russia. While the USA captured Inalik along with this part of the northwest of North America, Imaklik remained in the hands of Russia.

For a while, residents’ lives remained the same and they were able to move from one to another without any problems, but the Cold War led to a permanent divide. Immediately after World War II, Russia resettled the inhabitants of the Big Island to Siberia and established a military base there.

People continued to live on the small island, but no more than 70 people live there now. And in 1948 the border between the two was closed.

Island of Tomorrow, Island of Yesterday

“Interesting story, but nothing interesting,” you might think. Hang on, change is coming. What makes Diomedes special is that the limit is not physical but imaginary. This is the international date line that runs right between them. This line is drawn at the 180° meridian and marks the limit of the day change in the calendar.

Small town on small island

What does this mean? For example, on Russia’s Diomedes, the time will be 3:00 PM on Monday, while on the United States’ Diomedes, the time will be the same light, but on Sunday, at 12:00 PM. Well, There is a difference of 21 hours between the two hours. and why Imaqliq is known as the “Island of the Future” and Inalik is known as the “Island of the Past”. Come on, in a few steps both the date and time changed, and this was purely a political convenience.

It must be interesting to switch between both with a device that automatically changes the time to confirm that you have gained or lost 21 hours in a few steps. However, as we mentioned, it is completely illegal to do this.

Although, there are those who have done it… they have already swum, like swimmer Lynne Cox, who symbolically “united” the United States and Russia by crossing the Bering Strait, praised by Gorbachev and Reagan.

Pictures | USGS

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