There is a great interest these days in the relationship between the United States and Russia, and I wonder if many people are aware of the true distance between the two countries. If you think it’s several thousand miles, you are looking in the wrong direction. If you look at a map of Alaska, you will find Cape Prince of Wales on the western tip of the Seward Peninsula. This is the westernmost point of land on the North American Continent, and is 70 miles across the Bering Strait from the Chukotskiy Peninsula of Eastern Russia.
Between the two land masses are the Diomede Islands. One, Little Diomede with its village of Inalik, is in the U.S.; the other, Big Diomede, is in Russia. The distance between the two is only 7 miles. This is the true distance between the U.S. and Russia.
— George Darrow
Anchorage
Have something on your mind? Send to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Letters under 200 words have the best chance of being published. Writers should disclose any personal or professional connections with the subjects of their letters. Letters are edited for accuracy, clarity and length.