Why the International Date Line Deviates from a Straight Path- Unraveling the Curious History and Geographical Intricacies

Why is the International Date Line not straight? This question often arises when studying geography and time zones. The International Date Line, also known as the IDL, is an imaginary line that runs approximately from the North Pole to the South Pole, dividing the world into two halves: the Eastern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere. Despite its name, the IDL is not a straight line, and this article aims to explore the reasons behind this anomaly.