The Japanese oceanographic research vessel Mirai recently ventured into the Arctic Ocean, passing through the Diomede Islands at the center of the Bering Strait. Little Diomede Island, part of the Diomedes, is under U.S. jurisdiction, while Ratmanov Island belongs to Russia. The international date line splits the islands, giving them unique nicknames: “Yesterday Island” to the east and “Tomorrow Island” to the west.
Ratmanov Island, the larger of the two, marks Russia’s easternmost point, with only a 20-hour time difference in summer despite being just 3.8 kilometers apart. The United States Geological Survey notes the rare occurrence of ice forming between the islands during winter, creating a temporary route between the two countries.
The Mirai sailed through U.S. waters near Little Diomede Island, encountering fog and limited visibility. Operated by JAMSTEC, the vessel departed from Sekinehama for a month-long expedition to study environmental changes in the rapidly warming Arctic region.