Time Travel is Real, and It’s in the Bering Strait

A Tale of Big and Little Diomede

Ah, time travel. A notion that’s been tickling our imaginations for donkey’s years. H.G. Wells scribbled about it, Doc Brown cobbled together a DeLorean for it, and Doctor Who nailed it with a flying blue police box. But what if I told you that time travel is already a thing—sans flux capacitors, wormholes, or quantum entanglement?

You don’t even need a spaceship. Just a warm jacket (trust me, you’ll need it), a sturdy boat (or a willingness to turn into a human popsicle), and a sense of adventure. Welcome to Big Diomede and Little Diomede, the only spot on the planet where you can eyeball yesterday from today.

Meet the Diomede Islands: The Oddest Neighbours on Earth

Let’s kick off with some geography. The Diomede Islands are two minuscule, rocky outposts smack dab in the middle of the Bering Strait, that icy moat separating Alaska from Russia.

And here’s where it gets a bit bonkers:

That’s right, folks. If you stand on Little Diomede in Alaska and peer across the water to Big Diomede, you’re literally gazing into the future. You’re in today, and Russia is in tomorrow.

If you ever fancied waving at someone who’s already tucking into their next meal while you’re still on your last one, this is the place to do it.

Big Diomede: The Island of Tomorrow (Where You Can’t Go)

Now, if you were thinking about nipping over to Big Diomede for a quick chinwag with future-you, I have some bad news.

Big Diomede is completely uninhabited—well, except for a few Russian border guards who would very much like you to stay away.

During the Cold War, Russia decided that having villagers living so close to the U.S. was a bit of a security risk, so they moved the entire native population of Big Diomede to the mainland. Now, the only people left are Russian military personnel whose main job is to keep you from accidentally “time-travelling” without a visa.

So unless you have diplomatic immunity, a Russian passport, or a very good disguise, hopping over to the future is strictly off-limits.

Little Diomede: America’s Teeny, Tiny, Frozen Frontier

Little Diomede, on the other hand, is home to about 80 hardy souls who live in the village of Diomede, Alaska. The island itself is a giant rock, surrounded by icy waters, frequent storms, and a brutal climate. The people here, mostly Inupiat, have lived off hunting, fishing, and not freezing to death for centuries.

what’s life like in Alaska’s most remote village:

Oh, and did I mention they get their internet from a satellite dish mounted on a sledge? Because if you’re going to have the world’s most remote WiFi, you might as well make it mobile.

Despite all this, the people of Little Diomede are friendly, resilient, and probably laughing at us for thinking our cold mornings with “just a little frost” are unbearable.

Crossing the Date Line: The Ultimate New Year’s Party Trick

Now, let’s talk about the best time-travel party trick ever:

That means you could have two birthdays, two Christmases, or even two Monday mornings if you’re a real masochist.

And yet, despite the obvious opportunities for time-travel-related shenanigans, there’s no regular boat or air service between the islands. So, if you were hoping to hop back and forth between today and tomorrow for fun, you’d better bring your own kayak (and a really thick wetsuit).

A Real-Life Bridge to the Future?

In 2007, the Russian government proposed a bridge or tunnel across the Bering Strait, connecting Russia and Alaska. This would effectively link Big and Little Diomede, making it possible to walk from yesterday into tomorrow.

Of course, the idea of a land connection between the U.S. and Russia is slightly controversial, and as of today, no one’s building it anytime soon. But imagine if they did:

Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone in Silicon Valley already has a Diomede Time Travel App in the works.

Final Thoughts: Why You Should Visit (or At Least Appreciate) the Diomedes

If you ever want to experience the closest thing to time travel that isn’t in a sci-fi movie, the Diomede Islands are the place to do it.

But most of all, you’ll appreciate the absolute absurdity of time zones, the resilience of the people who live there, and the fact that somewhere out there, someone is watching tomorrow happen before you do.

And if that’s not the coolest (and coldest) place on Earth, I don’t know what is.