Bering strait

Bering Strait is a sea passage that separates the easternmost point of the Asian continent and the westernmost point of the North American continent. It is named after Vitus Bering, a Danish explorer in Russian service who traversed the strait in 1728.

Geography

The Bering Strait is approximately 82 kilometers wide at its narrowest point, between Cape Dezhnev in Russia and Cape Prince of Wales in Alaska. It connects the Chukchi Sea (part of the Arctic Ocean) to the north with the Bering Sea (part of the Pacific Ocean) to the south.

History

The Bering Strait has been a significant location in human history. It is believed to have been a migration route for early humans from Asia to North America during the last Ice Age. The First Nations people of North America are thought to be descendants of these early migrants.

In the modern era, the Bering Strait was first officially recorded by European explorers in the 18th century. The strait was named after Vitus Bering, who was the first European to thoroughly explore the area.

Significance

The Bering Strait is of significant strategic and economic importance. It is a potential location for a bridge or tunnel connecting Asia and North America, known as the Bering Strait crossing. The strait is also a key location for marine biodiversity and is home to many species of marine mammals, birds, and fish.

See also

• Bering Land Bridge
• Beringia
• Bering Strait crossing