In 24 hours, the Earth makes a complete revolution. Therefore, in different parts of the globe, the clock shows different times. For ease of reference, the entire territory of the Earth was divided into time zones. Their boundaries should have been determined by meridians and separated from each other by 15 degrees. But such a division is inconvenient for many states. Therefore, small countries consider local time in the capital. And in large states, several time zones had to be allocated. But still, the main calculations, for example, the time of rail and flights, are carried out according to the capital time. In Russia, Moscow is such a guideline. The time zone of other cities is counted precisely from it.
Time Zone History
Until the 19th century, there was no question of temporary confusion. Each state lived in its own local time, and traveling over long distances was a rarity. But with the advent of railway communication, a problem arose in scheduling trains. Therefore, at the International Congress in the 80s of the 19th century, it was decided to divide the territory of the Earth into time zones. Counting began to lead from the prime meridian - Greenwich - to the east. The difference between them is one hour. Therefore, a total of 24 belts. But until recently, all issues related to this, and a lot of confusion in the countdown, have not yet been resolved.
How time zones are divided
Theoretically, time zones run along the meridians and are 15 degrees apart. But in practice they are often displaced, it happens that they even disappear. This is due to the division of the territory into states. And many countries, ignoring the belts, are introducing metropolitan time. Therefore, the division into belts is now often conditional. But even in states that occupy a large territory, it is important not only local time, but also metropolitan time. For example, in Russia, the countdown goes from the city of Moscow. Her second time zone is from Greenwich. But all Russian cities consider time not from him, but from Moscow.
Introduction of standard time in Russia
Only in 1919 in Russia was the international system of time zones introduced. The territory of the country was divided into 11 zones. But not always their border passes along the meridians. For example, Moscow is considered a reference point in Russia. Its time zone from Greenwich was adopted UTC + 2. UTC is the world-wide designation of Greenwich Mean Time. But since the city is located on the border of the zones, summer time was introduced, and the difference became UTC + 3, which corresponded more to the natural rhythms.
What is the time zone in Moscow now?
Several times in the history of the country there have been changes in the division into time zones. In the 30s, daylight saving time was canceled , and the UTC + 3 belt was preserved in Moscow. It was believed that this was the most appropriate division, because in many countries, if the city lies on the border of the zones, it is classified as eastern. But from 1981 to 2011, summer time was again introduced in Russia. Moscow began in the summer ahead of Greenwich by 4 hours. And after the cancellation of the annual transfer of shooters, the capital remained in the UTC + 4 time zone. And now we live 2 hours ahead of the time taken when dividing the country into time zones.
Time zones in Russia now
In 2010, the country's division into belts was changed. And now Russia is located in 9 time zones. The Middle Volga and Chukotka-Kamchatka zones completely disappeared. Udmurtia and Samara passed to Moscow time, and Chukotka and Kamchatka - to Magadan. The difference between the belts is one hour. To calculate the local time, you need to know what time zone you are in. How are time zones considered relative to Moscow?
Their countdown comes from Kaliningrad. This is the first time zone. The difference with Moscow time is 1 hour. After all, this city is located west of Moscow. All European Russia lives on the time of the capital. It differs from Greenwich by 4 hours. In our country, this is the second time zone. She is the most populous. The next zone is the third, but the difference with Moscow is not 1, but 2 hours. It includes the Orenburg, Sverdlovsk, Tyumen and Chelyabinsk regions, Perm Territory, Khanty-Mansiysk District, the Republic of Bashkortostan and some other administrative units.
The rest of the time zones differ by one hour. Their borders are not always connected with the international division into time zones. For example, the fourth zone is accepted only in Altai and in several neighboring regions, and the fifth - in Tuva, Khakassia and Krasnoyarsk Territory.
Most often, the division into zones depends on the borders of republics and regions, but there are exceptions. For example, Yakutia lies in three zones, and the Sakhalin Oblast - in two. The farthest regions of Russia differ in time with Moscow by 8 hours. The time in them is calculated from Moscow according to the formula of the time zone - MSK + 8. A plus sign indicates that the zone is located east, and a minus sign indicates that it is west of Moscow.
Due to the constant transfers of time and confusion with time zones, Moscow time does not coincide slightly with astronomical time. But still, its countdown in the country is from the city of Moscow. You need to know her time zone in order to correctly set the time on the clock when moving to another region.