Which country(ies) on the globe wake to any given new day first?

Answer 1

Japan--the land of the rising sun

Answer 2

In order not to inconvenience citizens of the countries of the world, and make their country divide between two days and dates, the international dateline is zig-zaged through the Pacific Ocean away from any major land mass. Only a few islands are now near the dateline by modern convenience.


Over the years, the position of the International Date Line has changed several times. Until 1845, the Philippines were on the eastern side of it (the same side as the United States). It was on the eastern side of the line because it was a Spanish colony and most Europeans arrived there via the Spanish colonies in South America. Indonesia, almost directly to the South of the Philippines, was a Dutch colony and most European arrivals came via the Cape of Good Hope. Thus Indonesia was to the west of the International Date Line. After the independence of the South American countries, most people traveling to the Philippines also came by way of the Cape of Good Hope, so it was decided to change from the east of the line to the west of the line. Alaska, originally claimed by Russia, was to the west of the International Date Line because most travelers arrived there by way of Siberia. When the United States bought Alaska in 1867 the line was moved to the west of it. The most recent change in the line was in 1995 when Kiribati moved a large segment of it to the east, so that the entire nation would be on the same side of the International Date Line. As with all other changes in the International Date Line, the change was made by a government with local interests. As a result, the line is as far East as 150°, farther east than Honolulu. This does not change where the first sunrise of the next millennium will occur, however. The honor still goes to Antarctica

Answer 3

New Zealand and the far eastern corner of Russia would be the two most obvious answers. There are also many small islands (such as Tonga, Fiji, and the Marshal Islands) that would also be among the first to see the new day. According to the map on Wikipedia the Line Islands in the central Pacific would be the first place on earth to see a new day as they are west of the international date line and are the furthest east of any country west of the line.

See for yourself... click on the link.

Answer 4

Oceanian Islands like Kiribati.

Answer 5

The ones just east of the international date line.

Answer 6

giving the honour to fiji

Answer 7

new zeland and australia