Why does the International Date Line avoid land?
It is an imaginary line, like longitudes and latitudes. The time difference on either side of this line is 24 hours. To avoid any confusion of date, this line is drawn through where the sea lies and not land. Hence, the IDL is drawn in a zig-zag manner.
Why did Samoa lose a day?
Because it is located near the equator, Samoa traditionally did not observe daylight saving time. The introduction of daylight saving time was initially planned for 2009 but was postponed for one year in the aftermath of the 2009 Samoa tsunami.
Where can you stand on the International Date Line?
Taveuni is one of the few points in the world where you can stand on the International Date Line; where it can be Monday on one side, and Sunday on the other.
Why is the International Date Line not a straight line?
Why is the international date line not straight? An excellent way of visualizing the IDL is to think of it in terms similar to a line of longitude. In fact, it roughly follows the 180-degree meridian, which is located halfway round the world from the prime meridian. But the IDL, unlike a meridian line, does not run in a straight path.
What is the International Law on the dateline?
The dateline is not defined by international law. Countries are free to choose the date and time zone that they want to observe. For example, when the Republic of Kiribati gained independence from being a British colony in 1979 some of the islands were on one side of the dateline, and the rest were on the other.
Can you stand on the International Date Line in Fiji?
Stand on the International Date Line. Food and words. Some think it’s impossible to go back in time, but on Fiji’s third largest island you can do just this. Taveuni is one of the few points in the world where you can stand on the International Date Line; where it can be Monday on one side, and Sunday on the other.