Vaccines are being administered on a priority basis. The Diomede Islands in the Bering Strait are separated by the International Date Line with Russia's Big Diomede Island being 21 hours ahead of Alaska's Little Diomede. And What Should You Do, How Long Does Asphalt Take To Dry? The Bering Strait is an important waterway for marine life, including whales, seals, fish, and it is also an important migration route for birds. Alaska and Russia are separated by the Bering Strait. Related: Most-Visited & The Least-Visited National Parks: Great Smokey Mountains Vs. Gates Of The Arctic. You can follow her travels on Instagram at @theitinerantginger, Cabins In Seward | Lodging & Cabin Rentals, Anchorage To Valdez 30 Scenic Stops Along The Way, Surprising Bear Attack Statistics | Bear Attacks In Alaska, What Is Alaska Known For? [18], The depth of the water is a minor problem, as the strait is no deeper than 55 meters (180ft),[12] comparable to the English Channel. However, it would be extremely difficult to do so because of the harsh geographical and environmental conditions. This view of the Russian island of Big Diomede from Alaska shows the two islands are a short distance away. Recommended Fly Juneau to Helsinki, train Fly from Juneau (JNU) to Helsinki (HEL) Take the train from Tikkurila to Pietari 24h 38m In 2006, Karl Bushby and his French American companion, Dimitri Kieffer, walked over the frozen Bering Strait in about 15 days. She swam between Big and Little Diomede Islands in 1987 as a Cold War-era peace gesture. The ice extent on the Bering Strait is at its lowest point in the last forty years it has been observed. Two Russian nationals sought asylum in Alaska on Tuesday when they landed by boat on St. Lawrence Island, leaving lawmakers from the state asking the . "These islands are only two-and-a-half miles apart," the TikTok user said in the video. The distance between Alaskas capital Anchorage to Vladivostok is 3304 miles (5317KM). One can only try to walk over during the polar night so the ice does not melt. Solutions to this break of gauge include: The TKMWorld Link (Russian: , English: Transcontinental Railway), also called ICL-World Link (Intercontinental link), was a planned 6,000-kilometer link between Siberia and Alaska to deliver oil, natural gas, electricity, and rail passengers to the United States from Russia. Distance From Russia to the United States: During the Cold War, the border here between America and the USSR was known as the "Ice Curtain." Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts Contents1 Has anyone ever walked from Alaska [] In 2013, the Amur Yakutsk Mainline connecting the Yakutsk railway (2,800km or 1,700mi from the strait) with the Trans-Siberian Railway was completed. But if one does do it, be sure to learn some essential Russian phrases before going! Google Maps estimates it would take 4 492 hours to walk it which translates into 187 days of non-stop walking. It is named after Vitus Bering, a Danish explorer in service of the Russian crown. It is the marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean that is responsible for Bering Strait freezing over and forming a thick sheet of ice. This is why they call Little Diomede island Yesterdayland and Big Diomede Tomorrowland. The distance between Anchorage to Washington DC is 3375 miles (5432KM). How far is Russia from Alaska by plane? In the video, laubandrew notes the close proximity of two islands in the Bering Strait that mark the division between Russia and the United States. Can you still walk from Alaska to Russia? That is because Alaska is closer to these countries. The mainlands were separated by the Bering Strait. If you fly from Alaska to the continental United States, you are probably looking at flying between Juneau and Seattle. No, because there is not a single stretch of land connecting the two countries, although Russia is visible from Alaska. WorldAtlas.org says there are 11 U.S. territories located in the Pacific Ocean. In fact, during winter, the seas around the islands turn into ice, meaning you can actually walk from Alaska to Russia. [32] It is unknown who is expected to pay for the construction, although China has in other projects offered to build and finance them, and expects the money back in the end through fees or rents. Big Diomede is an 11.2-square-mile island that is a part of Russia and Little Diomede is a 2.8-square-mile island that is a part of Alaska. Sometimes patches of it freeze, and the gaps between the Bering Islan. Aside from the technical challenges of building two 40-kilometer (25mi) bridges or a more than 80-kilometer (50mi) tunnel across the strait, another major challenge is that, as of 2022[update], there is nothing on either side of the Bering Strait to connect the bridge to. I don't think you can do that from any European country. Russia is a large, transcontinental territory, spanning Eastern Europe to Northern and North East Asia. If we use this criterion, Alaska is closer to the continental US than Russia. At homeUnited StatesHow long does it take to walk from Alaska to Russia? Walking Diomede is a 29sq km island that is part of Russia and Little Diomede is a 7.2sq km island that is part of Alaska. An adventurer wishing to kayak, swim, walk over the ice, or sail from Alaska to Siberia across the Bering Strait would have to do so illegally. "To make matters even crazier, Big Diomede Island is 21 hours ahead of Little Diomede Island, which means that if you were to walk from the United States to Russia, you'd literally be walking into the next day. However, Russia and Alaska are relatively close to each other, separated by just a few miles of water at the narrowest point. My name is Jeyn Dashner and I am the founder of WanderFever. Within the Bering Strait, there are two small islands, Big Diomede and Little Diomede. An Alaskan charter airline called Bering Air does this. The westernmost of these islands, Big Diomede, is part of Russia, while the easternmost, Little Diomede, is part of the United States. That's mostly because most Russians live in the European side of Russia, while the vast majority of Americans live in the Lower 48. The distance from the mainland of Alaska to the Russian mainland across the Bering Strait is about 53 miles (85 kilometers). The stretch of water between the two closest points from Alaska to Russia is about 2.5 miles. It is the biggest country in the world by area and encompasses one-eight of Earths inhabitable land mass. However, from Little Diomede Island. Alaskas capital city is Anchorage, and some other of the larger cities in Alaska include Juneau and Fairbanks. (Scam Or Not), Is Hawaii Considered International? One traveling from Vladivostok to Provideniya can charter a plane to Nome in Alaska. Watch on. Perhaps the distance explains why Russia eventually sold Alaska to the US. The journey may take you 36 hours to complete. It separates North America from Asia at its narrowest point. You can technically see Russia from Alaska. People often wonder how far is Russia from Alaska? To enter Russia from Alaska, you first need to legally exit the US at the checkpoint. [1] Tunnel names have included "TKMWorld Link" and "AmerAsian Peace Tunnel". Up in the north, temperatures get extremely cold and destinations more remote. The total driving distance between would be around 1768 miles (2845KM). The distance from Guam to the city of Khasan, a city near the southeastern tip of Russia, is about 2,172 miles, according to MapDevelopers. Can you walk from Alaska to Russia? For inquires contact us at editor@beinghuman.org. Theoretically speaking, you may be able to drive from Russia to Alaska. Although the press remains skeptical of the project, China's state-run China Daily claims that China possesses the necessary technology. They are both rocky, barren islands with no vegetation or trees. Some people may approach the question of distance between Russia and Alaska by simply identifying the closest possible distance. In Bering Strait, lies two small islands known as Big Diomede and Little Diomede. The narrowest distance between mainland Russia and mainland Alaska is approximately 55 miles (88.5 kilometres), according to alaskacenters.gov. [12] Discovery Channel's Extreme Engineering estimates the cost of a highway, electrified double-track high-speed rail, and pipelines at $105 billion (in 2007 US dollars), five times the original cost of the 1994 50-kilometer (31mi) Channel Tunnel.[19]. But due to the treacherous surface, it usually takes over two weeks to cross the frozen Bering Strait. Andrea Romano is a writer and editor in New York City. Did you know that Russia and Alaska were so close? The Bering Strait is a narrow body of water that separates the easternmost point of the Russian mainland from the westernmost point of the North American mainland. Seeing these pictures of Russia from Alaska might give you a better idea of how close the two countries really are. In 2012, a four-member South Korean expedition team reached the U.S. state of Alaska from Russias Chukotka Peninsula and crossed the Bering Strait on foot in six days. [4], In 1904, a syndicate of American railroad magnates proposed (through a French spokesman) a SiberianAlaskan railroad from Cape Prince of Wales in Alaska through a tunnel under the Bering Strait and across northeastern Siberia to Irkutsk via Cape Dezhnev, Verkhnekolymsk, and Yakutsk (around 5,000km (3,100mi) of railroad to build, plus over 3,000km (1,900mi) in North America). The narrowest distance between mainland Russia and mainland Alaska is approximately 55 miles. From Eastport, Maine, which is the easternmost U.S. city, to Moscow, Russia, is a distance of about 4,222 miles, according to MapDevelopers. Russia shares borders with fourteen countries. Little Diomede This Island is located 16 miles (25 km) west of Mainland Alaska. Thus, even less time for Bering strait to have the chance to freeze over and be covered in a thick sheet of ice. The Bering Strait is between the Chukchi Peninsula in Russia and the Seward Peninsula of Alaska. It was debated by officials and finally turned down on March 20, 1907. The flight will be multi-leg, starting from Anchorage to Seattle, before you take a direct flight to Doha, Qatar. Legal Statement. [26] It would be a faster, safer, and cheaper way to move freight around the world than container ships, supporters of the idea believed. Not only is it possible to swim between Alaska and Russia, but several people have done it. But is it still possible to walk from Alaska to Russia on foot? If you calculate the distance between Anchorage and the continental USs largest northwestern city, Seattle, it would be 1448 miles (2330KM). Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. You cannot drive from Russia to Alaska. Obviously there was a land bridge in the Ice Age, and I imagine ice could have completely filled it in the Little Ice Age. The Russians are engaged in a plot to encircle the Chinese in British Colombia. You can travel between Alaska and Russia, although the journey may be much further than possible. To calculate the distance between the continental United States and Alaska, you have several options. The best part about this distance is that during winter, the seas between these islands froze, which means you can technically walk from Alaska to Russia, by walking from Big to Little Diomedes island. [10], The route is just south of the Arctic Circle, and the location has long, dark winters and extreme weather, including average winter lows of 20C (4F) and temperatures approaching 50C (58F) in cold snaps. Alaska and Russia are extremely close to one another. There is an Bering strait between Alaska and Chukotka (Russia), and it's width is about 86 km. The islands are separated by a day from each other. You can measure the direct distance or measure the actual driving distance. The Alaskan island of Big Diomede and the Russian Little Diomede Island is only 2.5 miles (4KM) wide from each other. However, this is not possible since there are no immigration checkpoints to allow you to stamp your passports. Can you walk across Alaska to Russia? Interestingly, Big Diomede is owned by Russia and Little Diomede is owned by Alaska. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Distance to capitals may be used to determine the political connection between territories at times. Another reason why you can't ride or drive from Alaska to Russia is because there are no official immigration offices to check you in or out of the countries. In this case, you will look at the distance between the Diomedes islands. The narrowest distance between mainland Russia and mainland Alaska is approximately 55 miles.The stretch of water between these two islands is only about 2.5 miles wide and actually freezes over during the winter so you could technically walk from the US to Russia on this seasonal sea ice. The distance may take around 33 hours of driving to cover, so you will need to dedicate multiple days to make the journey. In 1994, Lin estimated the cost of a bridge to be "a few billion" dollars. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live, a parody of her real-life quote about seeing Russia from certain parts of Alaska. If you travel with an airplane (which has average speed of 560 miles) from Russia to Alaska, It takes 5.27 hours to arrive. The theory believes that the Bering Strait was dry land during the ice age, allowing prehistoric humans and animals to physically migrate to North America. Perhaps one of the more well-known territories out there is Guam. This allows you to look at the Big Diomede Island or Ratmanov Island. The place to go to is, of course, Alaska. A TikTok user called laubandrew posted a video that explains just how you can actually walk from Alaska to. However, there is a water body that separates the two countries by a distance of just 2.4 miles (3.8 kilometres). Historical records show indigenous groups used these frozen routes to travel between the two islands. (Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2018/Gallo Images/Getty Images). For the last eight years, she has been a lifestyle journalist for. If you measure by direct distance, then Alaska is closer to Russia. Several American entrepreneurs have also advanced private-sector proposals, such as an Alaska-based limited-liability company founded in 2010 to lobby for a cross-straits connection, and a 2018 cryptocurrency offering to fund the construction of a tunnel. [3] The project was presented to the government of the Russian Empire, but it was rejected. This is the distance between the Chukchi Peninsula in Russia and the Seward Peninsula of Alaska. Yes. However, if measured by the distance between the capital, the city of Anchorage is closer to Washington DC than Moscow. So, while you cannot see Russia from most of Alaska, you can see a small part of it, the island, from some parts of Alaska. There are two reported cases of humans walking from Alaska to Russia in modern history. [34], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}6547N 16901W / 65.783N 169.017W / 65.783; -169.017, "Bering Strait bridge" redirects here. 7 Sponsored by Forbes Which are the most liberal and conservative cities in America? The satellite images from the 2021 winter indicate that the warming Arctic temperature is to blame. This is closer to the distance between Anchorage and Moscow, which is 4342 miles (6988KM). 25 Best College Towns and Cities in the U.S. How to Plan the Perfect Trip to the Appalachian Mountains Home to the 2,194-mile Hiking Trail and Gorgeous Small Towns. The frigid winds that come out of the north originate from the Chukchi Sea. Such as Latvia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China, and North Korea. [11] In 1994 he updated the cost to more than $4 billion. [20], The nearest major connecting highway is the M56 Kolyma Highway, which is currently unpaved and around 2,000 kilometers (1,200mi) from the strait. Second, you can also consider between major cities, and finally, between the capitals. The distance between these two cities is 909 miles (1493KM). Alaska and Russia are also divided by the International Date Line, which means that when it is Monday in Alaska, it is already Tuesday in Russia. There is no permanent settlement on Big Diomede island, with only a weather station. However, at the narrowest point, they are separated by the Bering Strait. The bridge would also likely be divided by the Diomede Islands, which are at the middle of the Bering Strait. The tides and currents in the area are not severe. But, you could certainly get a lot closer than that, and depending on where you're standing, you can actually see parts of Russia from land in Alaska. Oct. 6, 2022, 12:58 PM PDT. Right now, that area of the ocean is very turbulent so it rarely freezes. Interest was renewed during World War II with the completion in 194243 of the Alaska Highway, linking the remote territory of Alaska with Canada and the continental United States. [28], In late August 2011, at a conference in Yakutsk in eastern Russia, the plan was backed by some of President Dmitry Medvedev's top officials, including Aleksandr Levinthal, the deputy federal representative for the Russian Far East. If instead you decided to walk a more sensible 8 hours a day, it would take you 562 . The Bering Strait is about 82 kilometers (51 mi) wide at its narrowest point, between Cape Dezhnev, Chukchi Peninsula, Russia, the easternmost point (169 39' W) of the Asian continent and Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska, United States, the westernmost point (168 05' W) of the North American continent. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. They say do what you love, and she is lucky enough to do so! Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. You can literally walk from Alaska to Russia in winter. From Qatar, you then fly into Moscow. However, it would be possible to walk between the two countries if you start from the westernmost point of the mainland of Alaska and walk to the easternmost point of the Russian mainland. Do Pilots Actually Avoid Flying Over the Bermuda Triangle? Detainment and deportation because of undocumented immigration are inevitable. "[Instead,] we saw areas of open water on both the north and south sides of Big Diomede.". "We havent seen a good freeze up since 2012. When questioned by Mother Jones during the Republican primary campaign of his brother Jeb Bush a decade later in 2015, he denied having supported the tunnel project and said that he had traveled with Moon because he supported "efforts by faith leaders to call their flock into service to others. William Gilpin, first governor of the Colorado Territory, envisaged a vast "Cosmopolitan Railway" in 1890 linking the entire world through a series of railways. The stretch of water between these two islands is only about 2.5 miles wide and actually freezes over during the winter so you could technically walk from the US to Russia on this seasonal sea ice. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. This would mean that construction work would likely be restricted to five months of the year, around May to September, and centered during summer. And, you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska.". (Guide), What Do 60 Degrees Feel Like? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Although, some have discussed building bridges to the two Bering Strait islands and then tunneling through the islands to connect them. Yes. If you would try to walk, kayak or swim across the Bering Straigt, as soon as you would be on the other side you would be arrested and deported from the country you just arrived at. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "These islands are only two-and-a-half miles apart, which means that in the winter when the water freezes, you can walk from the United States to Russia in only 20 minutes," Andrew explained. We often think of Russia as being far away and on the other side of the globe, but at their closest points Russia and Alaska are only 53 miles apart! The Russians fear a Chinese attack. It would link London and New York by rail and superhighway via Russia if it were to go ahead. The proposal was for a 90-year lease, and exclusive mineral rights for 8 miles (13km) each side of the right-of-way. The closest distance between Russia and Alaska is only 2.5 miles (4KM) between the Diomedes islands. Water temperatures on the surface average from 34 F (1 C) in the north to 41 F (5 C) in the south. "The project is a monster," Yevgeny Nadorshin, chief economist with Trust Investment Bank in Moscow, said in an interview. From mainland Alaska, it is impossible to see Russia. The stretch of water between these two islands is only about 2.5 miles wide and actually freezes over . How cold is the water in the Bering Strait? It is not possible to see continental Russia from Alaska across the open ocean. If you drive from Alaska to the continental US, you may see 1768 miles (2845KM) of driving, which may take 33 hours. The Bering Strait is about 55 miles (90 kilometers) wide at its narrowest point and about 86 miles (138 kilometers) wide at its widest point. Alaskas north is the Chukchi and Beaufort seas, part of the Arctic Ocean. Not only that but one will need to be able to cross 200 kilometers of treacherous open stormy water. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Perhaps it's just easier to get an expedition cruise from Vladivostok in Russia to Anchorage in Alaska or one could just take a chartered flight. Traveling between Russia and Alaska. Cox is the most notable of them all. We have not heard of any adventurers who have received permission to arrive or depart from the remote shoreline of Russia. Its population is said to include 88 people and COVID-19 tests are available to anyone in the region, according to the Norton Sound Health Corporation. So technically, you can jump from one ice chunk to another, but it is still as dangerous. Published on March 9, 2021 International travel is a lot simpler than it sounds. The Diomede Islands, also known as the Tomorrow Islands and the Yesterday Islands, are two small islands located in the middle of the Bering Strait, between Russia and the United States. There is no bridge or tunnel connecting Alaska and Russia, so truly, the only way to travel between the two is by boat or plane. Russia uses the slightly broader Russian gauge of 1520mm. Next: This Is The Best Way To Visit Alaska's Beautiful & Remote Aleutian Islands, Aaron is a first-hand traveler who has visited more than 80 countries around the world. If you calculate the direct distance between Ketchikan to Blaine, Wacom county, Washington, you are looking at about 1000 miles (1609KM) of direct distance. Contents1 Has anyone ever walked from Alaska [] And it is the home of the port of Providenia. To its north lies the Arctic Ocean. The narrowest distance between mainland Russia and mainland Alaska is approximately 55 miles.The stretch of water between these two islands is only about 2.5 miles wide and actually freezes over during the winter so you could technically walk from the US to Russia on this seasonal sea ice. Natives of Big Diomede in Siberia and Little Diomede Island in Alaska cross over to the other island by boat occasionally. [10] At that time he made a feasibility study of a Bering Strait bridge and estimated the cost to be $1 billion for the 50-mile (80km) span. On the west are the Bering Strait and Russia. Like Gilpin, Lin envisioned the project as a symbol of international cooperation and unity, and dubbed the project the Intercontinental Peace Bridge.[12]. This makes Little Diomede the closest you can get to Russia. However, people who were looking forward to traveling to Russia on foot will likely be disappointed to know the water between the two islands has not frozen in years due to climate change. [23], In 2016, the Alaskan road network was extended westwards by 50 miles (80km) to Tanana, 460 miles (740km) from the strait, by building a fairly simple road. During the colder months, ice forms between the two so technically you could walk to Russia! Follow her on Twitter @theandrearomano. Big Diomede island is only 2.5 miles (4KM) from Little Diomede island. "To make matters even crazier, Big Diomede Island is 21 hours ahead of Little Diomede Island," he continued while he pulled up photos of the two islands. The stretch of water between these two islands is only about 2.5 miles wide and actually freezes over during the winter so you could technically walk from the US to Russia on this seasonal sea ice. The leading independent voice for aviation news and insight. The islands are about 2.4 miles (4 kilometers) apart and are divided by the International Date Line. If youre planning a visit to northern Alaska, make sure to schedule some time for polar bear sightings! I first obtained these Russian plans for invasion back in 2013-2014. This also means that there is no road, no immigration offices and no way to legally exit or enter any of the countries. Russia and Alaska are divided by the Bering Strait, which is about 55 miles at its narrowest point. be sure to learn some essential Russian phrases, the remanents of which are preserved in the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve in Alaska, Most-Visited & The Least-Visited National Parks: Great Smokey Mountains Vs. Gates Of The Arctic, 20 Reasons Alaska Is Actually Worth Visiting (Despite Being The State No One Cares About), expedition cruise from Vladivostok in Russia to Anchorage in Alaska, This Is The Best Way To Visit Alaska's Beautiful & Remote Aleutian Islands. We also discuss if Alaska is closer to Russia than the United States and also if you can travel from Alaska directly to Russia. You might remember Tina Feys impression of 2008 Vice Presidential candidate (and Alaskan!) But of course, if you're looking to get as close to Russia as possible while still being in the U.S., there's no need to go to tiny islands out in the Pacific Ocean. . However, it is possible to see some of the Russian islands in the Bering Strait from certain parts of western Alaska. Legal Statement. .The stretch of water between these two islands is only about 2.5 miles wide and actually freezes over during the winter so you could technically walk from the US to Russia on this seasonal sea ice. You can travel between Alaska and Russia, although the journey may be much further than possible. Alaska is one of those interesting places where it is part of the United States. The distance between Ketchikan to Blaine, Wacom county, Washington, is about 1000 miles (1609KM). Secondly is the lack of immigration checkpoints. It is not advisable to walk from Alaska to Russia. Alaska is situated in the extreme northwestern North America, bordering Canada on its east. No railways exist for over 3,200 kilometers (2,000mi) in any direction from the strait. Can you swim to Russia from Alaska? Photo: Jerry Lamont. Can you walk between Alaska and Russia? However, geographical and environmental conditions are harsh and unpredictable. The eastern point of mainland Russia is Chukotsky District. How Far Is Russia From Alaska? Your email address will not be published. The closest part of Russia to Alaska is the autonomous region of Chukotka. The Man Who Tried to Walk from Alaska to China. The short legal answer is no - unfortunately. The Bering Strait is named after the Danish explorer Vitus Bering, who was the first European to sail through it in 1728. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. He is passionate about traveling and opening up the world for other intrepid explorers. To its east, the Bering strait separates mainland Russia from North America, namely the state of Alaska. Russia is the biggest country by size in the world and spans from eastern Europe to Northeast Asia. As President and co-founder of Alaska-based boutique media agency HuMu Media, she spends her work time writing, photographing, and traveling, and her off time writing, photographing, and traveling. This is because humans usually travel between the two cities, which makes it suitable as a measurement. Last July, 47-year-old John Martin left Anchorage, Alaska and traveled north 500km by road, towing an eight-foot sailing dinghy past Denali National Park and into the interior. The distance between Uelen and Wales is about 62miles (99KM). It has shallow depth (meaning shorter and more powerful waves), volatile weather, and extremely cold sea temperatures (one will die very quickly in it). Fly, or float are your two options. But the longer answer is that is it extremely difficult and dangerous but it has been down - by hiking, swimming, and rowing. But certainly, there are other parts of the U.S. that can get you much closer to Russia besides points in Maine and Washington state. naql from Kodiak, AK, US/Wikimedia Commons. Proposed in 2007, the plan included provisions to build a 103-kilometer (64mi) tunnel under the Bering Strait, which, if built, would become the longest tunnel in the world,[25] surpassing the 60-kilometer (37mi) Line 3 (Guangzhou Metro) tunnel. That is around 400 kilometers or 250 miles from Alaska.