1. CHANGING TIME R.Molony text. Photos ©Steve Burgess.
LITTLE DIOMEDE ISLAND ALASKA
UELEN CHUKOTKA RUSSIA

2. LOCATE LITTLE DIOMEDE AND UELEN ON A MAP OF ALASKA AND CHUKOTKA.

3. INTERNATIONAL TIME
SINCE 1869 ALL TIME IS BASED ON THE O⁰ LINE OF LONGITUDE PASSING THROUGH GREENWICH LONDON. HOWEVER LITTLE DIOMEDE AND UELEN LIE ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE 180⁰ LINE OF LONGITUDE. WORK OUT THE TIME AND DATES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE INTERNATIONAL TIME LINE?
Little Diomede
Uelen

4. LIVING BETWEEN TWO TIME ZONES
Little Diomede has a population of 146 (2000) on the one settlement which clings to the side of the island. Great Diomede 2.5 miles away was depopulated during the cold war and is located in another country and time zone. Access to Little Diomede is mainly by the weekly helicopter weather permitting. Subsistence hunting is still an important source of survival and culture on the island. However the traditional technology of using skin boats has been replaced by modern boats with outboard motors.
Uelen located west of Little Diomede has a population of 776 and is located on a sand bar in Uelen Lagoon. There has been a high degree of depopulation since 1991 due to the decline in subsidies by the central government to workers from other parts of Russia. The current population of 776 is overwhelmingly Chukchi or Siberian Yupik (667). Uelen uses modern and traditional skin boat types depending on the sea ice conditions.
Little Diomede village and harbour
Uelen note the effect of tracked vehicles on the Arctic soil

5. LITTLE DIOMEDE AND UELEN.
Compare the two settlements under the following headings.
Site
Situation
Climate
Economic conditions
Hazards
Culture and lifestyle

6. TOURISM
You have been asked to design a tourism plan by the Chukotka and Alaskan authorities. This plan should consider the following factors.
1.Infrastucture.
2.Benefits to the local economy.
3.Respect for local culture.
An example of indigenous tourism in Alaska can be viewed at
Traditional skin boats Little Diomede Island
All photos © S. Burgess