Where is the International Date Line?

The International Date Line runs roughly along the 180° meridian in the Pacific Ocean, from the North Pole to the South Pole. It zigzags to avoid splitting countries and island groups, notably detouring around Russia, the Aleutian Islands, and several Pacific island nations.

What happens when you cross the International Date Line?

When traveling westward across the date line, you skip forward one calendar day (e.g., from Monday to Tuesday). When traveling eastward, you go back one day (e.g., from Tuesday to Monday). The time of day stays approximately the same.

Why did Samoa change sides of the date line in 2011?

Samoa switched from the east side to the west side of the date line on December 29, 2011, skipping December 30 entirely. The change was made to align Samoa's business week with its major trading partners, Australia and New Zealand, rather than being a day behind them.

The International Date Line Explained

March 19, 2026

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Where is the International Date Line?: The International Date Line runs roughly along the 180° meridian in the Pacific Ocean, from the North Pole to the South Pole. It zigzags to avoid splitting countries and island groups, notably detouring around Russia, the Aleutian Islands, and several Pacific island nations.
What happens when you cross the International Date Line?: When traveling westward across the date line, you skip forward one calendar day (e.g., from Monday to Tuesday). When traveling eastward, you go back one day (e.g., from Tuesday to Monday). The time of day stays approximately the same.
Why did Samoa change sides of the date line in 2011?: Samoa switched from the east side to the west side of the date line on December 29, 2011, skipping December 30 entirely. The change was made to align Samoa's business week with its major trading partners, Australia and New Zealand, rather than being a day behind them.