ajavööndides

Ajavööndides, often translated as time zones, are defined geographical regions that observe a uniform standard time for legal, commercial, and social purposes. The Earth is divided into twenty-four main time zones, each roughly fifteen degrees of longitude wide, corresponding to one hour of difference from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

The concept of time zones arose in the late 19th century with the advent of railways, which necessitated standardized times for scheduling and preventing collisions. Before time zones, each town or city would keep its own local solar time, leading to considerable confusion. International agreements, particularly the International Meridian Conference of 1884, established the Greenwich Meridian (0 degrees longitude) as the prime meridian and the basis for UTC, from which all other time zones are offset.

Time zone boundaries are not strictly determined by longitude but often follow political or geographical borders to simplify administration and communication within regions. Some countries have multiple time zones, while others, like China, despite its vast east-west span, officially use a single time zone. Adjustments to standard time, such as daylight saving time, are observed in many regions, further complicating the precise timekeeping across the globe. Understanding ajavööndides is crucial for international travel, communication, and global commerce.