The debate over daylight saving time emerges once again as the official clock change approaches. However, beyond the usual controversy, some Spanish regions are already positioned in their geographically appropriate time zone. These exceptions are Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Canary Islands.
Unlike the rest of Spain, which follows Central European Time (UTC+1), these three regions align with the time zone that naturally corresponds to their geographical position relative to the Greenwich Meridian, located at 0° longitude, which crosses part of the Iberian Peninsula.
Spain adopted Central European Time (UTC+1) during Franco's dictatorship in 1940, aligning with Nazi Germany and its allies. This political decision, made during World War II, has remained despite being geographically unsuitable for most of the country.
The Greenwich Meridian Factor
The zero meridian, known as the Greenwich Meridian, divides Spanish territory into two natural time areas: western and central. This division clearly shows that not all of Spain lies in its corresponding time zone.
The meridian crosses through northeastern Aragon, establishing a clear geographical time difference. While most of the peninsula maintains UTC+1, Catalonia and the Balearic Islands naturally fall within the UTC+1 bracket, just as the Canary Islands properly align with UTC+0.
Impact on Daily Life
These conditions mean that daily activities, including work schedules, school times, and social life, can better adapt to natural light and darkness rhythms in these regions. The Canary Islands' western time zone alignment with the UK and Portugal explains why this community experiences sunrise and sunset times more synchronised with actual solar time.