
The International Date Line zigzags around the 180th Meridian.
The
180th meridian or
antimeridian is the meridian which is 180° east or west of the
Prime Meridian passing through the
Royal Observatory, Greenwich. It is common to both east
longitude and west longitude. It is used as the basis for the
International Date Line because it for the most part passes through the open waters of the
Pacific Ocean. However, the meridian passes through a few countries as well as Antarctica.
Starting at the
North Pole and heading south to the
South Pole, the 180th meridian passes through: