International Date Line
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AI overview
The International Date Line is an imaginary line on Earth where the calendar date changes—when you cross it, the date shifts by one day. It matters because it helps the world stay synchronized with a single system for tracking which day it is, even though different places experience day and night at different times.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
The International Date Line around the antimeridian (180° longitude). The International Date Line (IDL) is the line extending between the South and North Poles that is the boundary between one calendar day and the next. It passes through the Pacific Ocean, roughly following the 180.0° line of longitude and deviating to pass around some territories and island groups. Crossing the date line eastbound decreases the date by one day, while crossing the date line westbound increases the date.
The line is a cartographic convention and is not defined by international law. This has made it difficult for cartographers to agree on its precise course and has allowed countries through whose waters it passes to move it at times for their convenience.