Alaska is only 80km (50 miles) away from modern day Russia. How come America wasn't a common knowledge before Columbus when you could probably just see it?

by attempt_number_3

I am aware that Russia didn't have Siberia when Columbus discovered America, but surely the information about another continent could have reached someone in Russia or China.

Tyfo

Check out the answers given in this link: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/7easxj/how_did_russia_not_know_about_north_america/

/u/kieslowskifan answered your question in that thread, and might be able to provide additional answers to any questions you might have!