This small republic, which first celebrates the arrival of 2024, thanks to fishing and diving. Photo: LR Composite/Kadir Van Lohuizen/Noor
As the arrival of New Year approaches, they are preparing to welcome it in different parts of the world. However, due to each country's geographic location, some are welcome 2024 Before others, in the middle of a small nation Pacific OceanOnly whose territory is to be seen 4 hemispheres.
Which country will be the first to get the year 2024?
The island republic of Kiribati lies in the middle Pacific OceanFirst country in the world New year. Made up of 33 coral atolls and a volcanic island At the very leastWith an area of 811.2 km², activities such as fishing, diving or bird watching are practiced.
As stated therein National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)In 1884, a boundary line was established to separate the two calendar dates, Kiribati appearing first. In this sense, it has a time difference of more than 14 hours from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT); So, when it's 5:00 a.m. on December 31st in Peru, Kiribati is already enjoying the first hour of the New Year.
Kiribati is made up of 33 islands, of which Christmas Island is the first island to celebrate the New Year. Photo: BBC
Why is Kiribati located in 4 hemispheres?
According to the publisher of Digital Publications for Education Britannica, geologists divide the Earth's surface into four hemispheres: northern and southern, separated by the equator; But east and west, it starts from the great circle formed by the Greenwich meridian.
In this respect, Kiribati is the only country located in all four hemispheres of the world. This is due to the expansion of the islands with an area of more than 3 million square kilometers.
Kiribati is in danger of disappearing. Photo: Greelane
Kiribati, the land that could disappear
Although a unique place on the planet, Kripati There is a risk of disappearing. According to a study by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) published in 2017, the island republic could be underwater within 10 to 15 years due to climate change and rising sea levels.
It was its former president Anot Dong (2003-2016) who sought refuge for his comrades as many of them began to migrate. Although it was planned to buy land from Fiji last year in 2012, it did not materialize.
