<P> Coordinates: 66 ° 0 ′ N 169 ° 0 ′ W ﻿ / ﻿ 66.000 ° N 169.000 ° W ﻿ / 66.000; - 169.000 </P> <P> The Bering Strait (Russian: Берингов пролив, Beringov proliv, Yupik: Imakpik) is a strait of the Pacific, which borders with the Arctic to north . It is located between Russia and the United States . Named after Vitus Bering, a Danish - born explorer in the service of the Russian Empire, it lies slightly south of the Arctic Circle being at about 65 ° 40' N latitude . The present Russia - US east - west boundary is at 168 ° 58' 37" W . </P> <P> The Strait has been the subject of the scientific hypothesis that humans migrated from Asia to North America across a land bridge known as Beringia when lower ocean levels--perhaps a result of glaciers locking up vast amounts of water--exposed a wide stretch of the sea floor, both at the present strait and in the shallow sea north and south of it . This view of how Paleo - Indians entered America has been the dominant one for several decades and continues to be the most accepted one . Numerous successful crossings without the use of a boat have also been recorded since at least the early 20th century . </P> <P> Since 2012, the Russian coast of the Bering Strait has been a closed military zone . Through organized trips and the use of special permits, it is possible for foreigners to visit . All arrivals must be through an airport or a cruise port, near the Bering Strait only at Anadyr or Provideniya . Unauthorized travelers who arrive on shore after crossing the strait, even those with visas, may be arrested, imprisoned briefly, fined, deported and banned from future visas . </P>

Who walked across the bering strait to the americas