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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Liam Buckler

Remote town in US home to only 77 people - which is just two miles from Russia

America's most remote town is home to just 77 people and only 2.4 miles away from Russia - but with a huge time difference.

The isolated city of Little Diomede is in the middle of the Bering Strait off Alaska, US, and is separated from Russia's Big Diomede by only a stretch of choppy sea.

Residents in their homes can view Russia from their own homes and, despite only being separated by a couple of miles, there is a huge 21-hour time difference between the two islands.

Iñupiat communities, a group of Alaska Natives, have spent over 3,000 years trawling through the perilous conditions on the tiny island of Little Diomede.

They spend their time hunting whales, polar bears, seals, and gathering supplies as winter temperatures can plummet to -14C in the winter - with the island frozen between December and June.

In the summer temperatures can reach 10C.

There are no roads, banks or restaurants for the residents (Uncredited/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Residents also face wind speeds of 90mph as they are surrounded by sea-ice just south of the Article Circle.

In addition, the local community also have to keep a close eye of polar bears as they are prone to attacking residents on the island.

The island, which has roughly 30 buildings, has a heliport which was built in the 1970s and 80s as well as a school and library.

Little Diomede has one school on the island and only has WiFi for just a couple of hours (LightRocket via Getty Images)

However, due to the nature of the rocky island there are no roads, cemeteries and extremely limited space for further buildings.

There is just one shop on the island which has a limited selection of food, clothing, weapons, and fuel - which means there are no restaurants or banks - with further items having to be flown in.

There are no daily postal deliveries with just a weekly delivery made by a helicopter and the main store having just one delivery a year.

Due to the limitations and lack of options on the island residents have to pay extortionate prices for basic items such as a bottle of laundry detergent which can cost nearly £40, according to National Geographic.

Little Diomede has one school on the island and only has WiFi for just a couple of hours each afternoon as signal is extremely limited.

Despite only being separated by a couple of miles there is a 23-hour time difference (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Vistors to the area are also hamstrung as there are no hotels, roads or restaurants which means they have to stay with one of the 77 locals on the island.

One lifelong local admitted life has barely changed on the island and despite being so close to Russia there hasn't been any change since their invasion of Ukraine.

Edward Soolook told Insider: "We're safe, as long as we sleep good at night. We keep the eyes and ears.

"We're the back door of the country — or the front door, rather."

The US purchased Little Diomede from Russia for $7.4m (£6.2million) in 1867 and has been part of Alaska ever since.

Russia and America communities were closely linked years ago as an ice bridge would link between the islands allowing locals to cross freely.

The communities would share many traditions but the Cold War changed the relationship between Little and Big Diomedeans forever.

Russia kicked off the native locals off Big Diomede in 1948 and transformed the area into a miliaty base with many locals feeling to Siberia or Little Diomede.

However, Russia's decision to build a military base turned their relationship sour and Russians rarely set foot on the island.

And with no ice bridge Russians could only visit the island by air.

Instead they have to travel to Nome and then to Alaska's costal town of Wales by plane if they are to reach the isolated island - with tourists rarely visiting the isolated island.

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