Introduction
If you’re planning a trip to North America, one of the things you’ll need to consider is the time zone. North America spans a vast area and is divided into several time zones. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the time zone map of North America and provide you with all the information you need to know.
What is a Time Zone?
A time zone is a region on earth that has a uniform standard time for legal, commercial, and social purposes. The world is divided into 24 time zones, each of which is one hour apart from the next. The time zones are based on the rotation of the earth and the position of the sun.
The Time Zone Map of North America
North America is divided into six time zones, which are Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, Alaska, and Hawaii-Aleutian. The Eastern time zone is the most populous time zone in North America, and it covers an area from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River. The Central time zone covers an area from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains, while the Mountain time zone covers an area from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific coast. The Pacific time zone covers an area from the Pacific coast to the Nevada border, while the Alaska time zone covers the state of Alaska. Finally, the Hawaii-Aleutian time zone covers Hawaii and the Aleutian Islands.
The Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern time zone is five hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-5). It covers an area from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River, including cities such as New York, Washington D.C., and Miami. During daylight saving time, the Eastern time zone is four hours behind UTC.
The Central Time Zone
The Central time zone is six hours behind UTC (UTC-6). It covers an area from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains, including cities such as Chicago, Dallas, and New Orleans. During daylight saving time, the Central time zone is five hours behind UTC.
The Mountain Time Zone
The Mountain time zone is seven hours behind UTC (UTC-7). It covers an area from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific coast, including cities such as Denver, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City. During daylight saving time, the Mountain time zone is six hours behind UTC.
The Pacific Time Zone
The Pacific time zone is eight hours behind UTC (UTC-8). It covers an area from the Pacific coast to the Nevada border, including cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. During daylight saving time, the Pacific time zone is seven hours behind UTC.
The Alaska Time Zone
The Alaska time zone is nine hours behind UTC (UTC-9). It covers the state of Alaska, including cities such as Anchorage and Fairbanks. During daylight saving time, the Alaska time zone is eight hours behind UTC.
The Hawaii-Aleutian Time Zone
The Hawaii-Aleutian time zone is ten hours behind UTC (UTC-10). It covers Hawaii and the Aleutian Islands. During daylight saving time, the Hawaii-Aleutian time zone is nine hours behind UTC.
Conclusion
Understanding the time zone map of North America is essential if you’re planning to travel to the region. Make sure to check the time zone of your destination and adjust your schedule accordingly. By doing so, you’ll ensure that you’re always on time and never miss an important appointment or event.