Good grief. Who would know better than an Alaskan?
These scoffers probably have no idea that Russia all but connects to Alaska. They ever heard of the Bering Straights?
And how about the Bering Land Bridge?
http://www.nps.gov/archive/bela/html/history.htm
I lived on the western tip of the Seward Penninsula near Wales Village for more than 2 years. The mountain behind the village is more than 2200 feet high. Little Diomede island rises to over 1600 feet as does the Russian mainland behind it. On clear days when it is not winter darkness due to being near the Arctic Circle, one can see the mainland behind the Diomedes. One such day when the sun was setting in the north, Russia had a distinctive red color. My friend exclaimed, “It really is RED!!”
Jon