Question

Give a reason for the following :

“The International Date Line is not a straight line coinciding with longitude 180 degrees.” Why?

Answer 1

The International Date Line passes through the Pacific ocean where there are no landmasses. It follows 180° meridian for most of its distance. The dateline is zig-zag in some places to avoid the confusion of time on the same island. It avoids some islands and deviates from 180°. In Northern Hemisphere, it bends to the West of 180° while in the Southern Hemisphere it bends Eastwards.