The International Date Line (IDL) primarily passes through the Pacific Ocean, roughly along the 180th meridian. It deviates around some island groups to avoid splitting them between different dates. The IDL is located east of the line, where the date changes from one day to the next when crossed.
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The International Date Line (IDL) runs mostly along the 180th meridian in the Pacific Ocean, but it deviates to accommodate various island groups and political boundaries. This imaginary line creates a boundary where the date changes by one day. Traveling westward across the IDL adds a day, while traveling eastward subtracts a day. The line helps maintain consistent timekeeping and calendar dates globally, preventing confusion with date changes as travelers cross between time zones. Its course avoids splitting territories and island nations between different dates, thus ensuring that entire regions adhere to a single date.