The large time difference will require some adaption from people involved in cross-border cooperation in the Barents region.
From October 30, 2011, you will have to set your watch three hours ahead when you cross the border from Norway into Russia, and three hours back when you go the other way. While Norway turns back the clock one hour after seven months of Daylight saving time, Russia will for the first time in 30 years drop this practice.
The news was announced by President Dmitry Medvedev today, RIA Novosti reports.
- I have decided to drop the transition to wintertime, starting from this autumn, Medvedev says. I have given the Government instructions about this, he added.
The president believes the change will have a positive effect, since adjusting the time backwards and forwards brings “stress and illness”.
The time difference between Norway and Russia will be two hours again in March 2012, when Norway adjusts to Daylight saving time.
The largest time gap along a political border is the 3.5 hour gap along the border of China and Afghanistan, according to Wikipedia.
