The country that enters the next day first is Kiribati.
According to the reference provided, the title of "first to celebrate" belongs to a cluster of islands in the Pacific Ocean known as Kiribati. Specifically, the Line Islands, located east of the International Date Line, are the first to see the new day.
Understanding Why Kiribati is First
Kiribati is an island nation located in the central Pacific Ocean. In 1994, Kiribati moved the International Date Line eastward to encompass its easternmost islands, including the Line Islands. This strategic relocation meant that the entire country would be on the same side of the Date Line, allowing it to be the first nation to enter the new day and year.
Here are key points about this:
- Location: The Line Islands chain, part of Kiribati, is situated just west of the 180° longitude line, which is effectively where the International Date Line runs.
- International Date Line: This imaginary line running through the Pacific Ocean determines where one day ends and the next begins. Crossing the line eastward subtracts a day, while crossing it westward adds a day.
- Strategic Shift: By adjusting the Date Line's path around their territory, Kiribati ensured their islands became the furthest west (in terms of standard time zones based on GMT/UTC) while still being west of the newly shifted line, making them the first to hit midnight each day.
This unique geographical and historical placement makes Kiribati the country that first welcomes the dawn of a new day.
