Question

Explain importance of international date line idl

Answer 1

The International Date Line serves as the "line of demarcation" between two consecutive calendar dates.

Google Earth view of globe showing International Date Line

The International Date Line, shown here as a yellow line, defines the boundary between calendar dates.

The International Date Line, established in 1884, passes through the mid-Pacific Ocean and roughly follows a 180 degrees longitude north-south line on the Earth. It is located halfway round the world from the prime meridian—the zero degrees longitude established in Greenwich, England, in 1852.

The International Date Line functions as a “line of demarcation” separating two consecutive calendar dates. When you cross the date line, you become a time traveler of sorts! Cross to the west and it’s one day later; cross back and you’ve “gone back in time."