What is the International Date Line?
As you move around the globe (starting at the Prime Meridian) the time will change. Hours will be added or subtracted. If you keep adding or subtracting hours, eventually you will reach a place where the time is either one day ahead or one day behind. This place is the International Date Line and it’s exactly opposite the Prime Meridian at 180º longitude.
What is daylight saving time?
In winter it gets dark earlier but in summer it gets dark later. So how can we make the most of the hours of light in each season? By changing the time!
This idea of changing the time to enjoy more hours of daylight was first used in 1916. It’s called daylight saving time.
At the start of spring, the time is pushed one hour forward and in autumn it is pushed one hour back.
Daylight saving time is still used today in many countries in Europe and North America.
Areas near the equator do not need daylight saving time because they are closest to the Sun and get plenty of hours of daylight.
Did you know?
- The North and South Poles do not have official time zones because all time zones meet there.
- Scientists who are doing research at the poles need to set their watch to something. In the North Pole, people follow the time of the country they come from. In the South Pole Station, they follow New Zealand time because all flights to Antarctica depart from New Zealand.
