(CNN) — It would make for a great “Jeopardy” answer: The Pacific island groups of Samoa and Kiribati share this annual first-in-the-world distinction.
And the correct question would be: Where is the new year celebrated first?
What is the international date line?
A new day has to start somewhere first, right? And that’s what the international date line does for us.
It follows a 180-degree longitude line (those run north-south across the globe vs. latitude lines that run east-west).
As NOAA explains: “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.’ “
The line is drawn North Pole to South Pole, but it’s not a smooth, even line. It twists and turns around political borders such as far eastern Russia and Alaska’s Aleutian Islands — and islands farther south in the Pacific.
How do Samoa and Kiribati claim ‘first’ status?
So what’s going on with Kiribati?
Sailing is a popular tourist activity in Kiribati.
courtesy conservation international
“Now, the date line takes a massive detour of more than 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles), around Kiribati’s eastern-most islands, so that the whole nation is on the same calendar day.”
What’s the story with Samoa and its close neighbor?
A beautiful aerial shot of the Somoan island of Savai’i, which is the country’s largest.
Kirklandphotos
This is where a line, history and money intersect to give us a very interesting division today.
Samoa and American Samoa are separated by just 101 miles (163 kilometers) — and by an entire year for a full day!
Wait a minute — how can that be?
Until 2011, the entire Samoan archipelago was on the same side of the international date line — to the east. So it was the last place in the world to welcome each new year.
But that turned out to be a real headache for the independent Samoans when it came to doing business with their most valuable trading partners, New Zealand and Australia. The line was redrawn for Samoa to make business dealings easier. American Samoa, with its economic interests more tied to the United States, stayed put on its traditional side of the line.
That explains why Samoa will see 2020 a full day before American Samoa, even though they are ever-so-close to each other.
New year novelty aside, why else should I travel there?
Afu Aau Waterfall is a stunning natural attraction.
courtesy Samoa Tourism Authority
Yes, it would be quite the novelty to be in these islands to ring in a new year. But there’s so much more going on, and it lasts all year long.
The Samoan archipelago is the South Pacific of your dreams — with beaches, colorful coral reefs, rainforests and waterfalls.
And Samoa tends to remain uncrowded versus some of its other South Pacific neighbors.