West of Alaska: The Russian Far East and the Asian Continent

The Land Across the Bering Strait

Directly west of Alaska lies the Russian Far East—the easternmost part of the Asian continent.

Closest Points

• Chukchi Peninsula (Chukotka Autonomous Okrug) – 82 km (51 mi) from Cape Prince of Wales, AK.
• Big Diomede Island (Russia) – 3.8 km (2.4 mi) from Little Diomede (USA) in the Bering Strait.
• Kamchatka Peninsula – Further southwest, volcanic, sparsely populated.

Significance

Bering Land Bridge (Beringia) connected the continents during Pleistocene glaciations, enabling human/animal migration. Today, the maritime boundary is a geopolitical frontier.

So: Asia—specifically Russia—lies west of Alaska.