The First and The Last Place


The Diomede Islands, sometimes called Tomorrow Island (Big Diomede) and Yesterday Isle (Little Diomede) because the big island is 21 hours ahead of the small one and Big Diomede is among the first of terra firma to bring in the New Year.

Also known in Russia as Gvozdev Islands, consist of two rocky islands: the U.S. island of Little Diomede and the Russian island of Big Diomede (part of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug), which is also known as Imaqliq, Inaliq, Nunarbuk or Ratmanov Island. They are located in the middle of the Bering Strait between mainland Alaska, USA and Siberia, Russia, with the Chukchi Sea to the north and the Bering Sea to the south.

The islands are separated by an international border and the International Date Line which is approximately 1 km from each island. At the closest distance between Little Diomede and Big Diomede, the two islands are only about 4 km apart. The small habitation on Little Diomede Island is centered to the west side of the island at the village of Diomede. The Diomede Islands are often mentioned as likely intermediate stops for a bridge or tunnel (Bering Strait bridge) spanning the Bering Strait.

Source: Wikipedia.

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