The Aleutian Islands are an arc of volcanic islands extending approximately 1,200 miles westward from the Alaska Peninsula toward the Russian Far East. This chain forms a natural boundary between the Bering Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south, marking a point of geographic convergence between North America and Asia. The proximity of these islands to Russia has defined centuries of history, international boundary negotiations, and strategic planning.
The Shortest Geographic Gap
The westernmost portion of the US-owned Aleutian chain reaches its closest point to Russian territory across about 207 miles (333 kilometers). This distance spans the water between the uninhabited Attu Island and the Russian-owned Commander Islands (Komandorski Islands). The islands stretch out so far that Attu Island is geographically closer to Russia than it is to the Alaskan mainland.
The absolute shortest distance between the United States and Russia occurs further north in the Bering Strait. There, the two countries are separated by 2.4 miles (3.8 kilometers) between the Diomede Islands: Little Diomede (US) and Big Diomede (Russia). This minimal distance confirms the Bering Strait region as the narrowest maritime boundary between the two nations.
Defining the Maritime Boundary
The boundary between the US and Russia is defined by the 1990 USA/USSR Maritime Boundary Agreement. This line generally follows the original border set during the 1867 Alaska Purchase. This international political line travels between the Diomede Islands in the Bering Strait, and then southward between the US Aleutians and the Russian Commander Islands.
The International Date Line also runs directly between the US and Russian possessions in this area. This temporal boundary creates a difference of approximately 21 hours between the two countries. Russian Big Diomede Island is nearly a full day ahead of American Little Diomede Island, earning them the nicknames “Tomorrow Island” and “Yesterday Isle.”
Historical Consequences of Proximity
The proximity of the Aleutians to Russia has been historically significant for geological and military reasons. Geologically, the islands are considered part of Beringia, a land bridge that connected Asia and North America during periods of glaciation. When sea levels dropped, this bridge allowed for the migration of animals and the early ancestors of Indigenous peoples who populated the Americas. The Aleutians represent the modern remnants of this ancient continental connection.
In the modern era, the islands gained strategic importance due to their location along northern Pacific shipping routes. During World War II, the proximity to Asia led to the Japanese occupation of Attu and Kiska Islands in 1942. This was the only North American territory occupied by a foreign power during the war, prompting a campaign by US forces to reclaim the islands. US forces succeeded in August 1943, but the campaign highlighted the region’s vulnerability.
The islands retained strategic value throughout the Cold War. Their position across the Bering Sea from the Soviet Union made them a primary location for military surveillance and monitoring stations. The proximity, particularly near the Diomede Islands, created a fortified border between the two superpowers, often referred to as the “Ice Curtain.”