Kiribati is the country that starts the day first. Specifically, its Line Islands, including Millennium Island, use the UTC+14 time zone, meaning they are the first to experience a new day and a new year according to the clock.
Understanding Time Zones and the International Date Line
The Earth rotates eastward, meaning that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. To account for this, the world is divided into different time zones. The International Date Line (IDL) is an imaginary line that roughly follows the 180° meridian and marks the point where each calendar day begins and ends. Crossing the IDL eastward means losing a day, while crossing westward means gaining a day.
Because of its location straddling the IDL, Kiribati's time zone is unique. Parts of Kiribati are located to the east of the IDL, making them the first places to greet the new day.
Other Countries Closely Following
While Kiribati is the first to experience a new day based on its official time zone (UTC+14), other island nations in the Pacific, such as Tonga and Samoa, are also very close in time, experiencing the new day shortly after Kiribati.
Practical Implications
This unique geographic position of Kiribati has implications for several aspects of life:
- New Year's celebrations: Kiribati is often the first place on Earth to celebrate New Year's Day.
- Global communication: International businesses often need to account for Kiribati's time zone to facilitate timely communication across the globe.
However, it's crucial to remember that the concept of "starting the day" can also be influenced by local customs and traditions, even if Kiribati technically starts its day first according to the internationally standardized time zones.
