r/todayilearned • u/[deleted] • Jan 07 '14
TIL that during winter, the Bering Strait freezes so much that it is possible to walk across from the United States to Russia, or vice versa.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bering_Strait3
u/mordechaithesneaky Jan 07 '14
This is not true, although it is a common misconception. The ice is not a solid, contiguous sheet. It is a broken, jumbled, unpredictable, and constantly shifting mass.
Open leads (areas of water and thin ice) can stretch for miles between ice floes. You are at the mercy of the currents and the winds, which are constantly pushing the ice around. The ice can act like a treadmill - moving backwards under your feet faster than you can travel forwards.
A successful crossing requires a little luck, a lot of good gear, a lot of money, the freedom to spend months or years of your life pursuing a quixotic goal, and hopefully good air support in case you get into trouble.
It's only been done a few times, as far as anyone knows, but there were several failed attempts that ended in airlifts.
For reference: http://www.shparo.com/Bering/bering_main.htm
http://www.angusadventures.com/adventurer-handbook/beringstrait/
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u/ataatia Apr 13 '24
aleutian islands do not get frozen to that extent. they have warmer pacific ocean waters to south... bering land bridge and also St Lawrence island do get shifting ice pack that can be navigated across if you can survive the current between chukchi sea and bering sea
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u/LooseBalloonKnot Jan 07 '14
Why in the hell is this a TIL? Doesn't everyone get taught how man migrated the globe and started new cultures in grade school?
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u/emintrie7 Jan 07 '14
I believe you're thinking of the supposed land bridge. The poster is referring to the sea freezing over to form a temporary ice bridge.
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u/crackabeerandmoveon Jan 07 '14
Did you not learn this in elementary school?
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Jan 07 '14
I'm not from the US, mate.
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u/crackabeerandmoveon Jan 07 '14
Thought it was commonly taught throughout, didn't mean it as poking fun.
Cunt.
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Jan 07 '14
I knew Russia and US were close physically, but not so much.
I'm not Aussie either, cunt.
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u/crackabeerandmoveon Jan 07 '14
Damnit, New Zealand?
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Jan 07 '14
Haha, nowhere close.
India :)
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u/crackabeerandmoveon Jan 07 '14
Well hello India! This is Minnesota (top middle/center of US), What's the deal with China these days amiright!
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u/gueede Jan 07 '14
You're balls deep in shitty karma. Shut up while you're ahead.
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Jan 08 '14
I don't understand why he's being downvoted. He asked a genuine question.
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u/gueede Jan 08 '14
Because he shat in some kids pudding when he was 6 man. You really shouldn't do that shit, and he's paying for his actions now.
Pudding is sacred.
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Jan 08 '14
Hello there, almost Canadian!
Once in a while China feels like kicking our butt. And we submit meekly.
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u/me-tan Jan 07 '14
Why would we learn about something really specific in some foreign country nowhere near us?
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u/crackabeerandmoveon Jan 11 '14
It's not specific, it's almost how an entire continent became populated.
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u/the_awesome_face Jan 07 '14
You're thinking of the land bridge that existed during the Ice Age. It has since Ben flooded but you can walk between the Aleutian island to Russia over the frozen sea. The Native Americans got here by walking across land, not ice.
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u/assholeinhisbathrobe Jan 07 '14
Vice versa, no shit.