The distance between Russia and the United States varies depending on what points you measure.
- The shortest distance between mainland Russia and mainland Alaska (USA) across the Bering Strait is about 55 miles (approximately 85 kilometers).
- However, between two islands in the Bering Strait—Big Diomede Island (Russia) and Little Diomede Island (USA)—the distance is only about 2.4 miles (3.8 kilometers). These islands are the closest points between the two countries. In winter, the water between these islands can freeze, theoretically allowing one to walk from Russia to the USA on the ice.
- If considering a broader distance from a general perspective between the two countries, the air travel distance between Russia and the United States is around 8,909 kilometers (5,536 miles).
Thus, geographically at their closest points, Russia and the USA are separated by just a few miles, but the broader distances between the main territories are much larger.
