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Why is Kiribati famous for the New Year?
BBA in mass communication | Posted on
Kiribati and Samoa is a group of Pacific islands. These islands are located halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand, and falling on the West of the International Date Line, they get to see the New Year before any other region in the world.
(Courtesy: Sierra Club)
The International Date Line is an imaginary line separating two consecutive dates.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “When you cross the date line, you become a time traveler of sorts! Cross to the west and it's one day later; cross back and you've 'gone back in time.” (Source: localnews8)
(Courtesy: World Atlas)So the Island groups falling closest to the West side of the line, are the first to greet Happy New Year. It’s all in the Geography.
Being the first to start the celebrations, Kiribati leaves no stone unturned in making it grand. The other partner, Samoa, gets to celebrate the New Year twice as American Samoa falls on the East of the imaginary line, thus marking the difference of one day. It used to be the case with Kiribati too back in the 1990s the line used to split this Polynesian destination into two.
(Courtesy: The Independent)Here are some more facts about Kiribati:
• Kiribati is pronounced as “Kiribas” in its local language.
• It became a full member of the UN in 1999. It is also a member of IMF.
• Its capital is Tarawa and currency is Australian Dollar.
• Out of 33 islands of Kiribati, 21 are inhabited.
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