The smaller island is the USA, the larger Island Russia.
Posted on 09/11/2008 8:21:07 PM PDT by Maceman
OK, I didn't watch the Sarah Palin interview, but apparently she made the comment that "you can actually see Russia from Alaska."
Of course, the DUmmies are all over this "gaffe", and there are numerous hits on Google about it already.
The Bering Strait is 53 miles across, which means you can't see Russia across it because of the curvature of the earth.
However, I did find one post on answers.yahoo.com that states:
Actually, the answer is yes and no. From the mainland, there is no way to see Russia from Alaska. The distance is too great.
However, there are two islands in the Bering Staight - Big Diomede and Little Diomede. The big island is Russian and the small one American. They are 1.5 miles from each other. Interestingly, the International Date Line separates the two, so there is a time difference of 23 hours between the two.
I thought that was actually an interesting little fact.
But I'm wondering, have any Freepers who have been to Alaska ever seen Russia from there?
That means the answer is “yes.”
I lived in Alaska for 4 years, and knew about the closeness of Big and Little Diomede islands. Didn’t go there, not many do.
By virtue of serving in the Air Force there in the 80’s during the Cold War, with aircraft that flew recon missions near Russia out of Shemya, I was aware how close we were to Russia. Very aware.
You can see it soon after lift off in a plane...the Palins own a small plane, so yes, they can see Russia from Alaska.
On a clear day anyway.
Yes you can. In fact here is the view from Alaska to Russia:
http://www.panoramio.com/photos/original/407734.jpg
She of course was perfectly correct again. These left wing ninnies are totally confused about the USA and or its geography. (among other things).
there is an island of Alaska that YES yiu can see Russia from it....
When I read this I immediately thought of Big and Little Diomede Islands too. MSM idiots forget about the Aleutian Chain (in the Navy, we patrolled up and down the Aleutians from Kodiak NAS during the early 60s). So Gov. Palin IS CORRECT! Typical nitpickin’ Lefties, what a shameless bunch. You know, we’re not talking about being able to see Moscow for pete’s sake!
Some folks say that you can walk to Russia from Alaska during the winter. Maybe an urban legend or in this case a rural legend?
That pic was the view of Big Diomede, Russia from Little Diomede, Alaska
Only if your eyes are open.
Distance between the USA and Russia — half a mile !
Just for some perspective. Looks pretty close to me.
From the top of Mt. McKinely you can see Russia. However, the air must be clear, and no head-wind. Of course, Matt Damon and Pamela Anderson must be at least 800 miles away in order for the hot gas not to muddle with the view.
Technically, Alaska and Russia are less than 3 miles apart at their closest point in the Bering Strait where two islands, Russia’s Big Diomede Island and Alaska’s Little Diomede Island, are located. In winter it is possible to walk across the frozen Bering Strait border between these two islands.
Of course, I doubt the DUmbasses would know Jr. High level geography, so of course they would call it a gaffe.
Do the DUmmies really think the Governor of the state is ignorant of that fact?
Oh, and with Charlie’s nose so far up in the air - or up his behind, he’d be hard pressed to see Russia - even if it was an existential unreality.
..sorry, didn’t finish. I had a friend who actually walked the gap several years ago when it was frozen over..
See for yourself. This links to a diorama done by people who live on Little Diomede, the very first shot is of Big Diomede(Russia) across the frozen Bring Sea. So she is absolutely right.
http://www.bssd.org/download/dio_standing_place.mov
Little Diomede Island USA (Big Diomede-which is part of Russia, is in the background)
Too many NRA commie teachers in our schools and colleges, so naturally they don’t know what they should know; and it seems democrat dogma doesn’t include research before running one’s leftist mouth.
I would like to cut Chuck’s nose off so he didn’t have a place to hang his silly glasses on the tip of it. He appeared to be looking down on her...
Have you noticed that every time they jump up and down and yell hoorah we finally proved how dumb she is, the pseudo-intellectuals are taught that what she said WAS the truth and they again look like the idiots they really are?
Savor...LOL
Thanks for the picture and the link.
Interesting reading.
If I read it correctly, the international dateline goes between the 2 islands.
Help out here:
If it is 8:00 am Monday on our island, what time & day is it on the Russian island?
If the polar bears don't eat you.
The effect I really like was how Charlie put on his ‘so smart reading glasses” and then placed them far down on his nose.
This meant, he had to look down at her while as a school marm he looked carefully at his notes containing the corrects answers to his questions— provided by the Obama campaigning.
he had such a great hushed low voice to emphasize his condescending relationship to her
What a bunch of over done drama for Charlie
its laughable
Thanks for the picture and the link.
Interesting reading.
If I read it correctly, the international dateline goes between the 2 islands.
Help out here:
If it is 8:00 am Monday on our island, what time & day is it on the Russian island?
Little Diomede (Alaska) is in the foreground, Big Diomede (Russia) is in the background.
Russia in the background from Alaska in the foreground.
I think 7 AM on Tuesday. But I’m not sure.
Every Alaskan school kid knows you can see Russia from Alaska.
The DUmmies literally are not smarter than a 5th grader.
I agree with your assessment of Charlie’s performance. I did have a grudging respect for him, which is now destroyed by the obvious disrespectful condescension he displayed in this interview.
whoops, my ‘puter burped....
I suspect you can see Russia from any commercial airline flying in Alaska.
Can’t find the transcript right now, which is the only way I caught the interview, and I believe she specifically said you can see Russian “from an island”.
If I’m wrong, I stand corrected.
Also 8:00 am, but the next day.
Nope. 7AM, not 8AM.
Only in the most indirect way. A lot of my neighbors here in Wasilla are Russians, and they are quite visible all around town, as most of them dress in a distinctive way, especially the women.
I don’t remember the exact words, but didn’t she specifically mention that Russia could be seen from an island in Alaska?
From the 57th state, the view to Russia is very clear.
Another view of Russia from Alaska. Sarah speaks the truth.
Did you mean NEA?
I think they’re deliberately misunderstanding her point, which is that the Russian bear is right across from Alaska.
In some regards, it's easier to think of the IDL not as line on the earth, but rather a fixed line under which the earth rotates...in other words, since the earth rotates from West to East, the Russian Islands would have passed under the IDL 23 hours earlier, making it 7:00 a.m. Tuesday there.
seeing as how she said ‘from one of the islands” what thehell is this all about?
Which in other words, means Governor Palin has a much clearer view of the future than the Illinois dumpster diver.
She is the governor of Alaska, and she’s not an idiot. Without even reading specifics, if Palin said you can see Russia from Alaska, I’m guessing you can. These idiots are trying too hard at winning the “gotcha” game.
she mentions the islands in the same comment.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.