International Latitude And Longitude Line:
The International Date Line is an imaginary line on the surface of the Earth that runs from the north to the south pole and demarcates the change of one calendar day to the next. It is located halfway around the world from the prime meridian (0° longitude) or about 180° east (or west) of Greenwich, London, UK. The coordinates of the International Date Line are Latitude: 0° 00’ 0.00″ N and Longitude: -180° 00’ 0.00″ W.
Latitude and longitude lines are used to locate places accurately on the Earth’s surface. Lines of latitude circle the Earth in an east-west direction. They are parallel. Lines of longitude run from the top of the Earth to the bottom. They are not parallel as lines of latitude are – they meet at a point at the north and south poles and are called meridians.
The International Date Line (IDL):
The International Date Line (IDL) is an imaginary line on the Earth’s surface, generally following the 180th meridian of longitude, where the date changes as one travels east or west across it. It is not a straight line but deviates to avoid crossing certain territories and to keep some island groups within the same day.
Here are some key points about the International Date Line:
1. Location:
The International Date Line is located halfway around the world from the prime meridian (0 degrees longitude), near the 180th meridian. It runs from the North Pole to the South Pole.
2. Date Change:
When crossing the International Date Line from west to east, the date is subtracted by one day. Conversely, when crossing from east to west, the date is advanced by one day.
3. Deviation:
The line deviates from a straight path to accommodate various political and economic considerations. It bends around the eastern parts of Russia and some island groups.
4. Pacific Ocean:
The majority of the International Date Line passes through the Pacific Ocean. It separates the eastern hemisphere from the western hemisphere.
5. Time Zones:
The IDL is not a fixed line but rather zigzags to pass around some countries and island groups. This ensures that these regions share the same day and time zone.
6. Changes in Day:
The change in the day occurs at midnight UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) along the International Date Line.
7. Islands and Territories:
Several islands and territories are affected by the International Date Line, and their local time and date may differ significantly from those just across the line.
It’s important to note that the actual path of the International Date Line is not fixed, and it can be adjusted through international agreements. The primary purpose of the line is to avoid large discrepancies in local times and dates and to ensure coordination in global timekeeping.