Islands Apart in Time: How the International Date Line Creates a 21Hour Difference Between Neighbors

Описание: There is a fascinating quirk in time between Big Diomede and Little Diomede Islands due to the International Date Line running between them. Specifically:

The two islands are separated by only 2.4 miles of water.
However, Big Diomede is on the western side of the International Date Line in the +12 time zone (Russia time zone), while Little Diomede lies to the east of it in the -9 time zone (Alaska time zone).

This means there is a 21 hour time difference between the two islands, despite their geographical proximity.
When it is say noon on Big Diomede Island on a particular day, it is 3am of the previous calendar day on Little Diomede Island.

So in a sense, Big Diomede island is "in the future" relative to Little Diomede just across from it.
For example, when the New Year starts on Big Diomede, Little Diomede still has 21 more hours left of the previous year.

Residents in the native village on Little Diomede can look over the water on New Years Eve and figuratively see the next year already in progress with celebrations, fireworks, etc.
Or the reverse at the end of the year.

So the International Date Line passing between these near twin islands leads to fascinating quirks in how time differs by over a day across just a couple of miles of ocean.
It highlights the concept of time zones and date lines in a very literal sense.