The country that sees the sunrise first each day is Kiribati, a nation located in the central Pacific Ocean.
Why Kiribati?
Kiribati's easternmost islands, such as Caroline Island, lie in the time zone of UTC+14:00. This makes them the first landmasses to greet the rising sun.
Understanding Time Zones and Sunrise
- Time Zones: The Earth is divided into 24 time zones, each representing a one-hour difference.
- Sunrise: Sunrise occurs when the top edge of the sun appears above the horizon in the east.
- Location Matters: The location of a country relative to the Prime Meridian (0° longitude) and the Earth's rotation determine when sunrise occurs.
Other Early Sunrisers
While Kiribati claims the first sunrise, other countries with territories close to the International Date Line also experience the sun rising very early. These include:
- Tuvalu: Located just west of Kiribati, Tuvalu also sees the sun rise very early.
- Samoa: Situated in the South Pacific, Samoa is another country known for its early sunrises.
