Posted on 04/19/2007 2:10:24 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued
Russia introduced a plan Wednesday to build a tunnel between Siberia and Alaska under the Bering Strait, saying the $65 billion project could be used to export Russian oil, natural gas and electricity to the United States.
While two officials at the Ministry of Economy endorsed the idea, they made clear that the Russian government had not signed off on it, other than to agree to a study on how to bridge the 93 kilometers, or 58 miles, of icy water that divides the Eastern and Western Hemispheres at their closest point.
Plans for a land link over the strait were first floated in the 19th century and have periodically been revived since; the latest twist is an emphasis on the link's being used for exporting energy and natural resources, the mainstay of the Russian economy.
The Russian national electric company and state railroad endorsed the plan Wednesday, adding a patina of credibility to an idea often dismissed as a colossal waste of money, even if it were found technically feasible.
Earlier justifications for the project, from creating a transportation corridor to building a symbol of political unity between Russia and the United States, have met with little sympathy in either country.
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
Just put those guys from Massachusetts in charge. They build to Russian specs.
Oh, my God! How much pork would Senator Ted Stevens be able to bring home to Alaska if that idea gets any traction? He would probably propose that the U.S. taxpayers pay for the whole thing.
No advanced anti-submarine listening devices will be installed during this project.....nothing to see here, move along.
As if we don’t have our own gas, oil and electricity. Oh, wait a minute—we can’t drill for our own. Let’s get dependent on the upcoming, new USSR. So they can blackmail us. So we can save ANWR. We will give them the rope....
I’m sure this has nothing to do with the fact that we don’t enforce our own borders, and it would thus allow tens of thousands, or even millions, of “guest workers” to walk right in and do Moscow’s bidding?
“Russia plans tunnel to link Siberia and Alaska”
Oh do we get a say in the matter?
A thread yesterday, and old thread http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/971011/posts?page=1
Political considerations aside, it would be interesting to see how the engineering problems of such a project would be overcome.
Think of it this way--whatever oil and gas we can get them to send us, is just that much more they don't send to China.
Related to this topic (sort of), but really cool:
http://24.237.247.165/straitcam.html
Its a camera of the Bering Strait, taken from the Kingikmiut school in Wales, Alaska.
You can control direction and zoom
You can see Diomede Island (sort of).
I just saw someone go into the house on the left.
Wales, Alaska is the westernmost point on the continent. The Russian tunnel would connect in Wales.
Equally cool:
http://www.bssd.org/diocam.html
This is a live view of the strait between Little Diomede Island (US) and Big Diomede Island (Russia). Its a live view of Russia (2 miles away and on the other side of the International date line), and its where the tunnel would have to go over.
Yes the cost seems much too low when you consider the location. Some of the coldest, stormiest (coined word) weather in the world there.
How cool would it be to take a road trip to Europe. I’d do it.
I await the floating bullet train bridge between SF and Hawaii.
Don’t do it. Not only shall the twain never meet, but in consideration of the Big Dig, the Alaska Dig could cost quadruple.
“The total length would be about twice that of the Channel Tunnel between Britain and the Continent and, according to Razbegin, would cost between $10 billion and $12 billion.”
Around February with the top down?
Shoot, we could just sell it back to ‘em...we’d make a nice profit and we could always invade later on : )
This is one of those things that I hope I can live long enough to see happen.
It's just a really damned-nifty engineering thing to do, and, it's really useful too!
It'll be accomplished around 2030 or so, and I might still be around if I can shake that ole song: "Ain't Livin' Long Like This" ............... FRegards
I was surprised to learn that the bridge from Alaska to Siberia was considered shortly after the Alaska purchase from Russia at the end of the Civil War. But then, it was equally surprising to learn that the canal connecting the Danube to the Rhine was considered by Charlemagne. Anyway, the former Governor is in Moscow to see about getting this $65 billion project underway. There is still some laughter about the Hickel Highway, but the Alaska Railroad was originally planned to go to the North Slope rather than stop in Fairbanks in the middle of nowhere.
Massive projects like this always seem to promote understanding and business! The Suez and Panama Canals, the Chunnel, etc., just make things better overall.
But then, I'm an engineer and I like $hit like this .............. FRegards
Funny how some of Hickel’s pipedreams aren’t viewed quite with ridicule today.
Hickel is great, no question. Another good Gov was Cowper, although that sentiment is not popular.
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