Bering Strait and Diomede Islands

News: New research from Utrecht University suggests that building a dam across the Bering Strait could potentially help stabilise the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). 

About Bering Strait

• Location: The Bering Strait is the northernmost part of the Pacific Ocean. 
• It is the only ocean gateway between the Pacific and the Arctic Ocean. 
• Connecting: It connects the Bering Sea to the Chukchi Sea of the Arctic Ocean. 
• Its narrowest point is between Cape Prince of Wales in Alaska and Cape Dezhnev in Russia. 
• Geography: 
  • Depth: It is relatively shallow, with an average depth of 50 m.
  • Width: At its narrowest point, it is about 53 miles (85 km) wide.
  • Climate: In winter, it experiences severe storms, with ice covering most parts of the Bering Sea.  In midsummer, the ice drifts into the strait.
  • Island: It has numerous islands, including the Diomede Islands and St. Lawrence Islands. 
    • The two Diomede Islands are located in the middle of the strait. 
    • St. Lawrence Island is the U.S.A’s sixth-largest Island.
• Significance: It plays a very important role in global ocean circulation and climate because it is the only route through which water can flow between the Arctic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. 
• Researchers have recently proposed a construction of the Bering Strait Dam (BSD), which could help to stabilise the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation.

About Proposed Bering Strait Dam (BSD)

• The proposed Bering Strait Dam (BSD) would separate the Pacific Ocean from the Arctic Ocean using three connected dams.
• It would have a:
  • A western section linking mainland Russia to Big Diomede Island
  • A middle section joining the two Diomede Islands, and
  • An eastern section connecting Little Diomede Island to Alaska in the USA.
• Size: Together, these sections would stretch for about 80 km.
• Depth: It would be built in waters with an average depth of around 50 m, reaching a maximum depth of about 59 m.
• Purpose: It is to block the flow of water between the Pacific Ocean and the Arctic Ocean.
  • Scientists suggest that this could help stabilise the AMOC, which transports heat across the globe and affects climate patterns.

About Diomede Islands

• The Diomede Islands are two small rocky islands located in the centre of the Bering Strait between the Siberian mainland and Alaska.
• The two islands are:
  • Big Diomede Island: It is known as Ratmanov Island.
    • It forms a part of Russia’s Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and is considered the easternmost point of Russia.
    • It is situated about 45 km southeast of Cape Dezhnev on the Chukchi Peninsula.
    • It serves as an important site for a Russian weather station and a border service station.
  • Little Diomede Island: It is also known as Iŋaliq.
    • It is administered by the U.S.A.
    • It is situated about 25 km to the west of the Alaskan mainland.
    • The village of Diomede is the only settlement on the island, which is inhabited by Inupiaq peoples.
  • Distance: The distance between the two islands is about 3.75 km.
  • The two islands are separated by the American-Russian maritime border and the International Date Line.
• Time difference: Big Diomede is also known as Tomorrow Island, and the Little Diomede is referred to as Yesterday Isle.
  • This is because Big Diomede on the Russian side is about 21 hours ahead of Little Diomede on the American side.