An unexpectedly controversialpostpopped up on societal medium platform X on Tuesday , stating that the island land of Kiribati is the only state that sits in all four hemispheres . hoi polloi in the replies hada lotto say ( which is n’t exactly an unusual matter on this particular site ) – but what form of claims were they take in , and who was right ?
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Some masses took issue with there being four hemispheres , with many pointing out that “ hemi ” indicate something is split into one-half or two . However , in this case , the original poster ( OP ) is right .
The Earth can be split up in half in more than one way . In fact , you could divide it in any number of the numberless means that might tickle your phantasy ( we are simply making imaginary line on a floating orb in the never - end abyss of space , after all ) , but thegenerally acceptedway splits the globe into North and South , and East and West – in other parole , four different hemisphere .
The North - Southdivide use the equator , run horizontally , which masses in the response also mistook for the country of Ecuador . Do n’t worry though , this South American nation has n’t magically been transported to the Pacific Ocean – the paradigm used by OP sport Spanish text , and “ Ecuador ” just so happens to be the Spanish word of honor for “ equator ” .
As for the Eastern and Western hemisphere , though some geographers wish to split them a little otherwise , in this typeface they are separated vertically by the 180thmeridian or antemeridian . This is opposite the prime meridian , where longitude is set at 0 , and forms the basis of the International Date Line ( more on that after ) .
If you put lines representing both sets of hemisphere on the globe at the same prison term , bits of Kiribati could be found in all four – but is it the only country that does this ? Several user were quick to pipe up lay claim that it is n’t , signal out that the United Kingdom and France have overseas territories that would also make them eligible – though give their dodgyhistory , not everyone thinks they count .
Its hemisphere - straddle abilities are n’t the only thing that makes Kiribati unique . Remember the International Date Line ? Kiribati used to straddle it , meaning that some neighboring island had a time remainder of 23 hours between them .
That was something of an administrative incubus apparently , so in 1995 , sanction announced they ’d swing the particular date line importantly eastwards so that all 33 islands had the same particular date .
“ We just did it and told the domain , ” said Michael Walsh , the Kiribati Honorary Consul to the UK , speaking to theBBCin 2011 .
Efficient .
