The Bering Strait is a narrow, frigid waterway that separates the continents of Asia and North America. It connects the Pacific Ocean (specifically the Bering Sea) to the Arctic Ocean (the Chukchi Sea). At its narrowest point, the strait is only about 53 miles (85 km) wide, with the international boundary between the United States and Russia running through it.
Key Features and Significance

• Location: The strait lies between Russia's Chukchi Peninsula and Alaska's Seward Peninsula. The U.S. and Russia are separated by a chain of islands within the strait called the Diomede Islands. The International Date Line also passes between these islands, meaning that Big Diomede (Russia) is almost a full day ahead of Little Diomede (U.S.).
• Bering Land Bridge: The most historically significant feature of the Bering Strait is its connection to the Bering Land Bridge, a prehistoric landmass that existed during the last Ice Age. At that time, global sea levels were much lower due to massive glaciers locking up vast amounts of water. This exposed the shallow seabed of the strait, creating a land bridge known as Beringia. This land bridge is the most widely accepted theory for how humans first migrated from Asia into the Americas, along with various plants and animals.
• Shallow and Icy: The Bering Strait is relatively shallow, with an average depth of 98 to 164 feet (30 to 50 meters). It is often covered in sea ice during the long, cold winters, making navigation difficult and dangerous for much of the year. However, as Arctic ice melts due to climate change, shipping traffic is increasing, raising new concerns about environmental protection and geopolitical competition.
• Marine Life: Despite the harsh conditions, the Bering Strait is an important ecological corridor. It is a vital migratory route for countless marine species, including whales, seals, and a huge number of seabirds that travel between the Pacific and Arctic Oceans.
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