Big Diomede Island
Island Remote Russian island near US Diomede; Arctic outpost
Russian island in the Bering Strait opposite Alaska’s Little Diomede, separated by the international date line; access is restricted and visits are rare, mostly military or scientific.
Big Diomede (Russian name Ratmanov Island) is a small island in the Bering Strait belonging to Russia’s Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. The island sits very close to the United States’ Little Diomede island and serves as a geographic marker between the two countries.
The island is largely uninhabited and has been used primarily for military and border control purposes in the 20th and 21st centuries. Civilian access is restricted and there is no regular civilian population.
Big Diomede lies in the central Bering Strait, approximately a few kilometres from Little Diomede island (Alaska), with the International Date Line separating the two islands so they are on different calendar days.
- Proximity to Little Diomede: Big Diomede lies roughly 4 kilometres from Little Diomede (United States) across the Bering Strait, with the International Date Line passing between them.
How to Get to Big Diomede Island #
Big Diomede (Ratmanov Island) lies in the Bering Strait and is Russian territory with restricted access. There are no regular tourist services; travel requires special permission from Russian authorities and is normally carried out by military or government-chartered transport. There is no public ferry or scheduled civilian air service to the island.
Tips for Visiting Big Diomede Island #
- Do not plan independent travel to Big Diomede: the island is under Russian administration and access is restricted, typically requiring formal government permission or an organized, sanctioned expedition.
- Arrange any visit through an approved Arctic/Chukotka operator who can secure the necessary permits and coordinate with local authorities; there are effectively no tourist services on the island.
- Expect strict border and security controls because of the island's strategic location in the Bering Strait; civilian access is rare and tightly regulated.
Best Time to Visit Big Diomede Island #
If visiting the remote Diomede area, plan for the brief summer months when access and conditions are least severe.
Weather & Climate near Big Diomede Island #
Big Diomede Island's climate is classified as Tundra - Tundra climate with cold summers (peaking in August) and freezing winters (coldest in March). Temperatures range from -22°C to 7°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall.
January
January is freezing with highs of -15°C and lows of -21°C. Light rainfall, partly cloudy skies, and breezy conditions.
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February
February is freezing with highs of -16°C and lows of -20°C. Light rainfall, partly cloudy skies, and breezy conditions.
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March
March is the coldest month with highs of -16°C and lows of -22°C. Light rainfall, partly cloudy skies, and breezy conditions.
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April
April is freezing with highs of -12°C and lows of -14°C. Light rainfall, mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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May
May is freezing with highs of -3°C and lows of -6°C. The driest month with just 17 mm and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cold with highs of 3°C and lows of -1°C. Light rainfall and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (34 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 4°C. The wettest month with 61 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.
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September
September is cold with highs of 4°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (48 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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October
October is freezing with highs of -1°C and lows of -4°C. Moderate rainfall (40 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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November
November is freezing with highs of -6°C and lows of -8°C. Moderate rainfall (36 mm), mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
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December
December is freezing with highs of -11°C and lows of -14°C. Light rainfall, mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.
