Alaska and Russia are separated by the Bering Strait. At their closest point, the two countries are only about 2.4 miles (3.8 kilometers) apart between the Diomede Islands — Little Diomede (U.S.) and Big Diomede (Russia). However, the distance between the mainland of Alaska and mainland Russia is approximately 55 miles (88.5 kilometers) at the narrowest point of the Bering Strait.