Imagine a place where you can step from one day into the next simply by crossing a small distance. This may sound like science fiction, but it’s a reality on Diomede Island, a fascinating locale in the Bering Strait.
Two Islands, Two Days
Diomede Island is divided into two parts: Big Diomede and Little Diomede. The two islands are just 4.8 kilometers apart, yet they have a profound difference in time due to the International Date Line running right between them. As you walk from one end to the other, you literally travel from one calendar day to the next, moving from the past to the future.
In simple terms, if you start your journey on Sunday from one end of the island, by the time you reach the other, it will already be Monday. This striking time difference is why Big Diomede is known as “Tomorrow Island,” and Little Diomede is called “Yesterday Island.”
The Role of the International Date Line
The International Date Line, an imaginary line that stretches from the North Pole to the South Pole, separates two consecutive calendar days. Crossing it can shift the time by a full 24 hours. On Diomede Island, this invisible boundary creates the rare phenomenon where you can literally step into the future or the past by simply crossing from one island to the other.
In winter, when the waters freeze, an ice bridge forms between the two islands, allowing people to walk from one to the other. However, due to political tensions, movement between the islands has been restricted. In fact, travel between Big Diomede and Little Diomede became illegal after the U.S. and Russia established borders in the 1980s, leaving the islands largely uninhabited today.
A Rich History
The islands were discovered by Danish-Russian explorer Vitus Bering in 1728. While they have long been a point of intrigue, their unique position on the International Date Line has made them a natural curiosity, sparking imaginations about time travel. Despite the beauty and mystery, Diomede Island remains largely off-limits due to political issues, preserving the enigmatic charm of this time-defying locale.