Diomede Islands
( Called Russian Острова Диомида / Ostrowa Diomida, also Gvozdyovs Islands) The Diomede Islands are a group of islands in the Bering Strait. It consists of the Little Diomede Island ( Little Diomede ) in the east and the Ratmanov Island ( or Big Diomede Island, Big Diomede ) to the west, which are about four miles apart, and between which on the one hand the state border between Russia and the United States of America and on the other hand, the International date Line. Occasionally one counts also located about 15 km southeast of the Little Diomede Island, uninhabited Fairway Rock to the island group.
Geography
The islands are located in the middle of the Bering Strait, about halfway between Cape Deschnjow and the north-western tip of Alaska to 65 ° 46 'north latitude. The coasts of the islands are very rugged, with steep descending to the sea rocks. Located in the interior of the islands, however, are relatively flat plateaus.
Which belongs to Russia Ratmanov Island (in the language of the natives Imaqliq - " the water from the cloaked " ) has an area of 29 km ². In the times of the Cold War, a Soviet military base here was built. The eastern end of the Russian -controlled island is also the easternmost point of Russia.
The the U.S. state of Alaska belonging Little Diomede Island (in the language of the natives Inaliq - "The Opposite " ) has an area of 6 square kilometers and is approximately 180 people - mainly indigenous inhabitants of the Inupiat or Ingalikmiut - inhabited. Capital of the island is Diomede.
- Views
Diomede, the main town of the Little Diomede Island
Diomede
History
Were first discovered by a European researcher the islands on 16 Augustjul. / August 27 1728greg. by Vitus Bering, who they named after the date of discovery by Diomedes, a participant in the Trojan War. The actual exploration took place only in 1732 by the Russian researcher Mikhail Spiridonovitch Gvozdyovs instead. Previously, the islands were also known by the name Krusenstern Islands.
In August 1987, the American Lynne Cox swam across the narrow passage between small and large Diomede Island to set a sign for peace.