Compass sides in Russian. Orientation on the map

Linguistic anthropological studies have shown that most human societies had four points of cardinal direction. The names given to these directions were usually derived from either locally defined geographical objects (e.g., "towards the hills", "towards the sea"), celestial bodies (especially the sun), or atmospheric objects (winds).

According to the chronicler Reinhard (c. 830), the Frankish king Charlemagne coined his own names for the classical winds. He named the four cardinal winds as:

North(etymology uncertain, maybe “wet”).
Ost(shining place, sunrise).
Court(sunny lands).
West(habitat, meaning evening).

The intermediate winds were constructed as simple composite names of these four. These names are the sources of modern names for compass points, found in almost all modern Western European languages. For example, north, east, south and west in English: Nord, Est, Sud, Ouest.

Location of north, east, south and west, are called cardinal directions or cardinal points, and are usually designated by the letters, N, E, S, W. East and respectively west are at right angles to north and south, and east is on a clockwise rotation vector from north and west directly opposite to east . The points between the directions form compass points. Intermediate (intercardinal or ordinal) directions are northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest. The intermediate direction of each set between the cardinal and cardinal directions is called the secondary - intercardinal direction, which is denoted by:

ESE, etc.

Compass

The Earth has a magnetic field that is approximately aligned with its rotation axis. Magnetic compass- this is a device that, using this field, shows the main directions. A two-pointed magnetic needle points to the north pole with one end and the south pole with the other. This is because the Earth's north pole is in opposition to the magnetic south pole.

Sun

Position of the Sun in the sky can be used for orientation if the general time of day is known. In the morning the sun rises approximately in the east. In the evening the sun sets approximately in the west. At midday, it is in the south for Northern Hemisphere viewers who live north of the Tropic of Cancer, and in the north for Southern Hemisphere viewers who live south of the Tropic of Capricorn. This method does not work very well when the observer is closer to the equator (i.e. Between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn).

Due to the axial tilt of the Earth, regardless of the viewer's location, there are only two days each year when the sun rises due east. These are the days of the equinox. On all other days, depending on the time of year, the sun rises either north or south of true east and falls north or south of true west.

Astronomy

Astronomy provides a method for finding direction at night. All the stars lie on an imaginary celestial sphere. Due to the rotation of the Earth, the celestial sphere rotates around an axis passing through the Earth. This axis intersects the celestial sphere at the north and south poles of the celestial zone, which, according to the observer, lie directly above the north and south, respectively, on the horizon.

In either hemisphere, observations of the night sky show that visible stars move in circular paths caused by the Earth's rotation. This is best seen in long exposure photography. The resulting photograph shows many concentric arcs (parts of perfect circles) from which the exact center can be easily obtained. This center corresponds to the celestial pole, which lies directly above the position of the true pole on the horizon.

North celestial pole is currently (but not constantly) within 1 degree of the star called Polaris. The exact position of the pole changes over thousands of years due to the precession of the equinoxes. The North Star is visible only on cloudless nights for residents of the Northern Hemisphere.

While observers in the Northern Hemisphere can use Polaris to locate the North Celestial Pole, the southern star of the constellation Octantus is barely visible to use for navigation. For this reason, the preferred alternative is to use the Southern Cross constellation.

Gyro-compass

At the very end of the 19th century, in response to the development of battleships with large transverse guns that acted on magnetic compasses, and perhaps to avoid the need to wait for good weather at night. In order to accurately check its correspondence with true north, I was gyrocompass developed. Because it finds true poles rather than magnetic ones, it is immune to interference from magnetic fields.

Its main drawback is that it relies on technology that many people may find too expensive to be worthwhile outside the context of a large commercial or military operation.

Satellite navigation

At the end of the 20th century The advent of satellite global positioning systems provided another means of accurately determining true north. Government agencies in charge of satellites constantly monitor and adjust them to maintain their precise alignment with the Earth.

Unlike a gyrocompass, which is most accurate when stationary, a GPS receiver, if it has only one antenna, must move, usually at speeds greater than 0.2 km/h, to correctly display compass directions. On ships and aircraft, receivers are often equipped with two or more antennas separately attached to the vehicle.

Additional items

Direction names are also commonly and very conveniently associated with degrees of rotation in a unit circle, a necessary step for navigation calculations or for use with global positioning satellite receivers. The four cardinal directions correspond to the following compass degrees:

North (N): 0° = 360°.
East (E): 90°.
South (S): 180°.
West (W): 270°.

Use of cardinal points for making maps

Thus, with the cardinal points precisely defined, by convention cartographers draw standard maps with north (N) at the top and east (E) at the right. In turn, maps provide a systematic means of recording places, and cardinal directions provide the basis for a structure for locating those places.

In the real world there are six cardinal directions not related to geography, which are north, south, east, west, up and down. In this context, up and down refer to height, or perhaps depth (if water is involved). A topographic map is a special case of cartography in which elevation is indicated on the map, usually through contour lines.

Origin of ancient names

During the invasion of the Huns, names from Germanic languages for cardinal directions entered the Romance languages, where they replaced Latin names. Some northerners used Germanic names for intermediate destinations.

In many regions of the world, prevailing winds change direction seasonally, and so many cultures associate specific winds with cardinal and intercardinal directions. For example, classical Greek culture characterized these winds as Anemoi.

In post-medieval Europe names were given to the cardinal and intercardinal directions. These often corresponded to the directional winds of the Mediterranean (for example, the southeast was associated with the Sirocco, a wind from the Sahara).

Video

From the video you will learn how to determine the cardinal directions and navigate the terrain without a compass.

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Many people know where the east is. It is located where the sun rises, since this is, first of all, the cardinal direction, determined by the direction of rotation of the Earth. Therefore, on an early cloudless morning we see it in the east. How to determine its location on a cloudy day, when the entire sky is covered with clouds, in the evening or at night? This can be done in certain ways. In addition, a number of countries are called the East and you can often hear the following definitions: countries of the Middle East, central-eastern countries, Far East.

Where is east on geographical maps?

When viewing a geographical map, we can see that in the upper corner there is an icon called “Wind Rose”. It shows the directions of the parts of the world. The direction to the south and north is conditionally oriented towards the geographic poles of the earth. On the map, north is at the top and south is at the bottom. They are located one opposite the other and are connected in a straight line, that is, the angle between them is 180 degrees.

Where is east on the map? Perpendicular to the north-south direction. If from the center of the straight line connecting them we draw a straight line intersecting at an angle of 90 degrees, then we will get the directions of the other two parts of the world - east and west. If we look at the map, then the east is located on the side of the right hand, and the west - on the left. In other words, if we look north, then east will always be on the side of the right hand. Now we know where north, south, west and east are on a geographical map.

Determining east using a compass

The most reliable way to find your way around is with a compass.

You need to place the device on a horizontal surface and remove the lock. Using a compass will be the easiest way to determine where east is.
Once released, the magnetized arrow will turn to the north; it will certainly be marked in white, red or green, and most often, its tip is made in the form of a triangle.
It is necessary to rotate the device body so that the letter N is located under the magnetized arrow. This will be north.

The direction of the east is marked with the Latin letter E or Russian “V”. But how to determine such cardinal directions as, for example, northeast. Where is? It will extend in the direction of the “NE” mark on compasses made in Russia, or NE on foreign-made instruments.

How to determine where east is on the ground using moss or tree bark

Since we were in school, we know that the sun is in the east in the first half of the day, and in the west in the afternoon. At noon the sun will point south. In the case when there are clouds in the sky and our star is not visible, you can orient yourself with the help of moss or tree bark. It is well known that moss always grows on the north side, and the bark of trees from the north is always thicker.

Thus, having determined the north direction, you need to turn your face to the north, and the east will be located on the right. In this way we can determine where the north, east and west are, which is on the left hand side.

How to navigate by shadow

You can also navigate and determine the position of the east by the shadow. To do this you need:

Let's take a look at Christian churches

If there is an Orthodox or any other Christian church or chapel in the city, then determining the position of the east will not be difficult, since the central entrance to these places of worship is oriented strictly to the east. Where the south, west, and also north is located will be easy to determine. If you stand looking strictly east, then you will have north on your left side, south on your right, and west behind you.

Determining where east is based on the location of the North Star

From school geography we know that the North Star is located near the North Pole. This is the brightest star in the European sky and is located in the constellation Ursa Minor, at the very end of its tail. It has long served as a landmark for sailors and travelers. Using it you can easily determine where the North is. As the night progresses, her position remains unchanged.

By facing it, we will determine where the east is. It will be on our right side. It should be taken into account that the difference between the true position of the north and the North Star is one degree. But this is not a big mistake for an ordinary person. The star got its name due to the fact that it points to the North Pole. There is no such star in the southern hemisphere.

Orientation using a watch without a compass

If you don’t have a compass with you, then you can determine where south, west, east and north are if you have a mechanical wristwatch and a sunny day. For this:

Place the clock horizontally.
The hour hand should point towards the sun.
We connect the angle between the hour hand and the 12 o'clock mark with a straight line and divide it in half.
A line passing perpendicularly through the middle points exactly south. Before 12 o'clock in the afternoon the sun will be on the left, and after 12 o'clock - on the right.

But this method is not entirely accurate, since the average noon in Russia is different in each region, that is, not 12 hours. For example, in Moscow the average noon is 12:30, and in St. Petersburg it is 12:59. Therefore, in the first case, the angle must be counted from the middle of the hour markers between the numbers 12 and 1, and the hour hand. In the second case, the angle is formed between the number 1 on the clock and the hour hand directed towards the sun.

East, as part of the territory

The East, in addition to being a part of the world, has other meanings. In some cases, the word "east" is used to define part of a country, for example, the Far East, which contains the eastern territories of Russia, Korea and China. Or the eastern region of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, or the South-East of Moscow.

Near East

The word “east” is used as a contrast to the countries of Western Europe. From a geographical point of view, countries belonging to the Middle East are not located in the East in relation to Europe.

The historical name of the Middle East is given to a large region of Asia and North Africa. It includes 17 countries inhabited by Armenians, Arabs, Turks, Kurds, Assyrians, Persians, Jews and other nationalities. For the most part, these are representatives of Islam, but there are also many Christians, Jews, Druze and Yazidis.

These areas are of strategic importance, as large hydrocarbon deposits are located here. The Middle East is a zone of constant military conflicts. This is a politically unstable area, since it is here that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the wars in Iraq and Syria are taking place, and the problematic Afghanistan is located. It is from the Middle East that Islamic extremism spreads.

Far East

Compared to the Middle East, the countries of the Far East are located in the geographic east of the Earth, where the day begins. The Far East is usually called a large region that includes the countries of Northeast, East and Southeast Asia. The regions of the Far East include 18 countries in their entirety and 9 eastern regions of Russia.

Far East of Russia

This region occupies 34% of the country's territory. It includes the Primorsky, Kamchatka and Khabarovsk territories, the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, the Republic of Sakha-Yakutia, the Jewish Autonomous Region, the Amur, Magadan and Sakhalin regions.

The region of the Far East is predominantly mountainous and seismic. The Pacific coast is prone to cyclones and tsunamis. There are active volcanoes on the Kamchatka Peninsula, the most active of which is Klyuchevaya Sopka. This area is rich in mineral resources: gold, nickel, tin, mercury, manganese, tungsten, polymetallic ores, brown and hard coal, oil and gas. Mineral resources have been explored, but practically untouched.

The area is sparsely populated, with 7 million people living in a vast area larger than Western Europe. This is mainly due to inaccessibility. Development of the northern regions is currently not possible. Most of the Russian Far East belongs to the Far North regions.

, West East).

The directions north and south are determined by the Earth's poles, and east and west (related to the rotation of the planet around its axis) by the visible rising and setting of celestial bodies. Since ancient times, people have determined the approximate southern direction by the position of the sun at its zenith, the eastern direction by the place of its sunrise, and the western direction by the place of sunset; the northern direction (in the Northern Hemisphere) was determined by the North Star. On modern geographical maps, the north side is usually at the top: in this case, the south is at the bottom, the west is on the left, and the east is on the right. On ancient, and sometimes modern maps, the south or east could be placed at the top. On star charts, east and west are reversed [ ] : the card “appears” to be not located under, A above observer.

When orienting a person in space, the principle of four sides is also used: “in front”, “behind”, “left”, “right”. In this case, the directions are not fixed and are chosen relative to the person himself.

The principle of fourfoldness is reflected in folklore, customs, and religious rituals of many peoples, including Slavic ones:

“go to all four directions”;
Trypillian four-part altars were precisely oriented with their four crosses to the cardinal points, even if this direction diverged from the orientation of the walls of the house, etc.

In addition to dividing the circle into four directions - north, south, west, east - as orientation problems developed, additional divisions with intermediate directions were introduced: northwest, northeast, southwest, southeast; There are now eight directions in total. Later, the following intermediate divisions were introduced: north-northwest, west-northwest, etc., bringing the number of directions to 16. After another division into intermediate directions, this process was completed with the introduction of 32 directions.

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Colors symbolizing cardinal directions

The traditional color of the south pole of a magnet and the magnetic compass needle is red, and the north pole is blue. Red is traditionally associated with warmth, and blue with cold. In the Assyrian calendar, the north was called the Black Country, the south was the Red Country, the east was the Green Country, and the west was the White Country. City gates in ancient China were painted accordingly.

Symbol

To designate the cardinal directions, 4 Latin letters are often used: N, S, E, W, (which corresponds to the first letters of the names of the cardinal directions in English - North, South, East, West), or S, Yu, E, W (which corresponds to the first letters of the names of the cardinal directions in Russian are North, South, East, West.

In addition, in the history of Russian maritime navigation for a long time, the German names for the cardinal directions were most often used and are still used today - Nord, Suid, Ost, West (Nord, Zuid, Ost, West).

This is most likely explained by the fact that in the era of Peter the Great - the beginning of the 18th century, when the navy of the Russian Empire was being born, many terms in the Russian language came, as is known, from the Dutch language, and there the cardinal directions have the following names, which are largely consonant with their related ones German: N -noord (north), O - oost (ost), Z - zuid (south), W - west (west)

Despite advanced methods that have given people ease and speed in navigation, each of us can easily find ourselves in a position where it is vitally important to find the right path in unfamiliar terrain. Learning to determine the direction at the right moments, where is north, and where is west, south and east, is not difficult if you know the principles of orientation.

If a person is lost or has mixed up the path, then a mobile navigator is the first reliable and convenient assistant, which will show not only north and south, east and west, but will also draw a given path.

What if there is no network or phone with such an application? Then the old, proven companions of any traveler come to the rescue - a compass and a map, which will help you navigate and not stray from the original path.

But it happens that you don’t even have a map and compass with you, and you don’t know where to go. Then the location of the cardinal directions - north, south, east and west - is determined by indirect landmarks.

Determining the location of the cardinal directions using a magnetic compass

All magnetic compasses, despite the difference in design, work on the same principle - they turn with a magnetic needle along the line of magnetic poles present on the Earth, indicating its direction.

The long tip of the arrow will face north, the short tip will face south.
Usually the arrow that shows the north direction is painted blue, or simply marked as the main one. The arrow pointing south is painted red.

There are 4 letter symbols on the dial corresponding to the cardinal directions:

North is usually designated by the letter N, corresponding to the international name North, that is, north, but the Russian S can also appear.
South is similarly designated by the letter S, which corresponds to the name South, that is, south, but the Russian Yu is also found.
Vostok is marked with the letter E, meaning East, that is, ost, but sometimes the Russian V is placed.
West will correspond to the letter W, indicating the name West, that is, west, but the Russian Z can also stand.

Using a compass to determine north, south, west, east and their locations is not at all difficult if you understand simple rules.

The compass must be positioned exactly horizontally, otherwise the error may be critical.
Turn the device carefully until the long end of the oscillating arrow stops at the N mark, and the short end stops at S.
The line along the arrows will indicate the north and south directions.
If you turn your gaze to where the north arrow is pointing, you will be looking north, the south will be behind you, the east will be on your right hand, and the west will be on your left.
Having decided on the orientation of where north, south, east and west are in relation to you, you can now move on to the question of where exactly you need to move.
Some compasses have an additional fixed arrow that can be used to set the path you need. It needs to be adjusted in accordance with the direction of your route.
There are compasses with a built-in compass, which can be used to easily calculate azimuth.
If the compass is simple, it’s not scary, you just need to select the required direction of the route, correlate it with the compass and find a suitable large object located in the distance as a landmark.
It could be a tall building, a large tree, a mountain top, a temple dome, a tower, a chimney, etc.
Feel free to walk to the landmark, and when you reach it, check the movement again with the compass indicators.

Remember! The position of the hands is greatly influenced by other magnetized objects and devices, high-voltage power lines, and the abundance of metal around, so severe distortion is possible!

Determining the location of the cardinal points on the map

With cards everything is similarly simple. If you need to determine the location of north, south, west and east, their location on the map is always the same.

Regardless of the scale and purpose, on maps the north will always be at the top, the south will always be strictly below, the east will be on the right, and the west will be on the left side of the map.

If you have a compass, then the task is simplified - you just need to align the route laid out using the map with the compass needle and follow it.

If you don’t have a compass, then one map can also help out.
You need to approach a road, railway track, river or lake.
Find this object displayed on the map.
Rotate the card until the picture on it matches what you see.
Next, mark the route, focusing on the cardinal directions of the map and boldly follow it.

Remember! When you reach a large object, check your direction with the map again to see if there are any deviations from the path and if you are moving correctly.

How to navigate the terrain without a map and compass

A person who has lost his way is not always a traveler, and it may well turn out that he has neither a compass nor a map with him. Then traditional methods of navigating through previously unfamiliar terrain far from populated areas will help.

Natural signs and phenomena will help those who are lost to navigate where north, south, west and east may be:

stars;
Sun;
moon;
nature.

An ordinary wristwatch, which has a dial with arrows, can also help determine the direction.

How to determine the location of the cardinal directions by the stars

The main landmark in the night sky for the northern hemisphere is the North Star, which points to the north pole when facing it.

It is easy to find the North Star in a clear night sky - it shines noticeably brighter than other stars.
It is located at the tip of the small bucket not far from the Big Dipper.
Turning your face to it, the northern direction will be in front of you, the southern direction will be behind you, and the west and east will be located on the sides - the western direction on the left side, the eastern direction on the right.

Now mark a landmark in the distance and correlate its location with the cardinal directions indicated by the star. Decide where you should move in relation to the landmark.

How to find out where the cardinal directions are located using the sun as a guide

The sun, by its movement across the sky, can perfectly tell you in which directions the south, north, east and west are located in relation to your position.

It rises in the east, ends the day in the west, but you need to take into account seasonal shifts - in winter at sunrise the luminary will be in the northeast, at sunset - in the northwest, in summer it will shift on the contrary to the south.

The simplest method for determining the poles is to turn away from the sun on a summer afternoon, with your back to it. The northern side will be in front, the southern side will be behind, the eastern side will be on the right side, and the western side will be on the left side. A pole stuck into the ground works in a similar way - its midday shadow will point to the north pole.

If it’s not summer and it’s far from noon, then a proven method of orientation using two pegs will help.

Two pegs are stuck into the ground at intervals of 15 - 20 minutes.
Immediately the edge of the shadow cast by the peg is marked with a matchbox, a pebble, or another peg.
Then a long stick is placed between the two marks, connecting them with one line.
Perpendicular to this line, directed away from the pegs, will point towards the north side.

Remember! When going on a trip, record the position of the sun at a certain time. If you continue to walk, and every time during these hours the sun is in the same position, you move away from the original point of the route; if the sun is in the opposite position, you return to where you started.

Determining cardinal directions by the moon

The phases of the lunar disk at night will tell you the direction of north, south, east and west, if you remember a few aspects.

The young waxing moon moves toward the western part of the night sky.
The waxing lunar quarter in the evening hours gravitates to the south.
During the full moon, from midnight for an hour, the bright disk is similarly located closer to the south.
In the middle of the morning, the waning quarter of the moon also fades on the southern side.
During the waning phase, the crescent of the month shifts to the east.

Remember! It is easy to calculate the phase based on the illumination of the lunar surface - when increasing, the right side of the disk is illuminated, and when decreasing, the left is illuminated.

Natural landmarks indicating cardinal directions

If you look around carefully, you can find many clues from nature indicating which side is which.

A lone tree will point its thick, lush crown in the direction of the south.
If there is a coniferous forest around you, pay attention to the trunk - on the southern edge it is abundantly covered with resin.
If you take a closer look at the bark of the surrounding trees, you will notice that on one side the trunk is drier and lighter, and on the other it is darker. The light side faces the southern edge, the dark side faces the northern edge.
If you come across a stump nearby, or even better - several, pay attention to the cut. Its growth rings are shorter in the north, longer in the south, and the center of the pattern is shifted to the north.
You can easily find your way around the birch trunks - from the southern edge the trunk is clean, white, dry, from the northern edge it is cracked, dark, with growths.
An anthill in the forest is built at the southern foot of a tree, the southern slope is smooth and gentle, and the northern slope is steeper and shorter.
Moss grows on the northern part of the trunk.

Remember! The flight of a flock of birds in spring will point towards the south, in autumn - towards the north.

How a wrist watch can help determine the location of north and south

A regular wrist watch with hands is another great tool to roughly find your north and south directions during the day if you get lost on your route.

Place the watch dial horizontally, fixing it on the ground or in your palm.
Point the short hour hand towards the sun.
Between it and the unit on the dial, select a sector of the circle.
Divide the sector in half with a mentally drawn line.
This line will be a bisector and point to the south.

This principle is based on the fact that the sun moves 2 times slower than the hour hand moves, so the angle between the hand and the unit will be twice as large as the angle by which the sun deviates. According to Greenwich, the number 12 is taken for orientation, for Russia - the number 1.

Remember! The clock should display local time.

In cartography and geography, the concept of cardinal directions has long existed. They are necessary to determine directions on the ground and on the map, are used in construction, in transport, and help in other activities. How to determine where is north, south, west, east? Let's find out what the sides of the horizon are and how to navigate along them.

In ancient times, man learned to determine his position on the ground, noticing that every day the Sun rises from the horizon in the east, and sets in the evening in the west.

The ability to navigate helped our ancestors find their way home, hunt, and cultivate plants.

The principle of dividing space into parts was an important stage in man's study of the surrounding world. The main cardinal directions received their current names in ancient times (north, south, west, east). Over time, instruments for observing the Sun and planets and measuring devices became more advanced. Scientists have found that the North and South geographic poles are two opposite points at which the surface of our planet is crossed by an imaginary line - the earth's axis.

Let's determine where is north, south, west, east?

The directions to the east and west are associated with one of the movements of the Earth - rotation around its axis. The sun appears from behind the horizon in the east in the morning, reaches its zenith in the afternoon, moves to the other side of the sky in the evening and sets in the west. There are differences in the position of the Sun at different latitudes due to the tilt of the earth's axis. At noon at the equator, the luminary is located directly overhead. In winter in the Northern Hemisphere it shifts to the south, in summer - to the north. In summer, the sunrise can be observed in the southwest, in winter - in the southeast. In polar and subpolar latitudes, the polar night lasts for six months; the sun does not rise above the horizon. And when the sun does not set for six months of the year, the polar day begins. In the northern region there is a magnetic pole, towards which the compass needle turns. On the opposite side of the planet is the southernmost continent - Antarctica. You can determine directions, if one of them is known, using a simple method. You need to stand so that your face is facing north. Then the south will be behind your back, the west will be on your left, and the east will be on your right.

The relative position of the main and intermediate sides of the horizon

There are main directions - north, south, west, east - which are supplemented by intermediate ones. This division is very convenient; it allows you to more accurately determine the location on the ground, find objects on maps and topographic plans. For example, northeast is the side of the horizon located between the direction of north and east. On maps, plans, dials, in textbooks, reference books, designations are introduced using the first letter of the Russian or Latin name. There is a more detailed division of the sides of the horizon. Thus, between the directions from and north to east there are north-northeast (neast) and east-northeast (east).

Cardinal directions on plans, maps and globe

In the old days, sailors and travelers were guided by maps, on which the north could be at the bottom and the south at the top. Knowledge about the Earth's surface was imperfect; many geographers made mistakes when plotting objects on plans and maps. There were so-called “white spots” - unexplored areas. As a rule, on modern geographical plans and maps, north is at the top, south is at the bottom, west is on the left, and east is on the right.

The same principle was used to create the globe. Its upper half is the Northern Hemisphere, the lower half is the Southern Hemisphere. To the left of the prime meridian is the Western Hemisphere, to the right is the Eastern Hemisphere. The place where the ball is attached to the stand is the South Pole, the opposite point is the North Pole. It is easy to find any geographical object if its coordinates are known. North, south, west, east - the main directions, as well as latitude and longitude on the map and globe. Continents, oceans, plains, mountains, seas, cities and other geographical objects that are located above the equator have a northern latitude, and below the 0° parallel have a southern latitude. Objects to the left of the prime meridian have western longitude, while those to the right have eastern longitude.

Compass is a device used to determine directions

A device equipped with a two-color magnetic needle helps you find the sides of the horizon and navigate the terrain. It usually rotates freely in the center of the round body. The device used to determine directions is a compass. North, south, west, east are indicated by letters on the scale of this device. The red point facing the "C" or "N" mark indicates north. The opposite part of the arrow points south. To the left of this axis is west, to the right is east. Inside the compass there is a scale with numbers from 0 to 360°, arranged clockwise. The division price may vary from device to device. Using a compass allows you to:

A compass is necessary for representatives of many professions - sailors, pilots, military personnel, builders, geologists, as well as tourists and travelers. There are different types of this device that help you navigate along the lines of the Earth's magnetic field.

Directions on the ground (north, south, west, east)

You can determine your location by celestial bodies, natural phenomena and signs of nearby objects. At noon, when the Sun is in the south, shadows from vertically located objects are directed with their apex to the north.

At night you need to try to find the North Star. The two extreme bright points of the Big Dipper, forming the wall of the Big Dipper, are called the Pointers. A straight line drawn through them rests directly on the North Star. It is located in the northern half of the sky and belongs to the constellation Ursa Minor.

A good helper for those who get lost is a wristwatch. To find out the direction, turn the dial clockwise towards the Sun. An angle is formed between the line leading to the number 1 (13.00 hours), which is divided in half and a bisector is obtained (it points to the south). Orientation by local signs:

on the northern side of the trees there is a thicker layer of lichens and mosses;
drier soil under rocks facing south;
In winter, on the north side the snow remains loose longer;
anthills are more often located to the south of hills, trees, stones;
the clearings that divide the forest into quarters are oriented from east to west and from north to south (their serial numbers are marked on pillars, starting from north-west and south-east).

Each method has an error, which must be taken into account on the ground. It is better to use several methods, then the result will be more accurate.

Dear readers, please suggest your answer to the question “Where is south, where is north?” in the comments below!

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Method 5. Determine the cardinal directions by the North Star. 2. Determination of cardinal directions by sunrise and sunset. In this case, the directions are not fixed and are chosen relative to the person himself.

By rotating the clock in a horizontal plane, the hour hand is directed towards the Sun. The cardinal direction in geography is one of the four main directions (north, south, west, east). On modern geographical maps, the north side is usually at the top: in this case, the south is at the bottom, the west is on the left, and the east is on the right.

The directions north and south are determined by the poles of the Earth, and east and west (associated with the rotation of the planet around its axis) - by the visible sunrise and sunset of the heavenly bodies. On ancient, and sometimes modern maps, the south or east could be placed at the top. This star is Polaris.

Orientation by the Sun and clock

When orienting a person in space, the principle of four sides is also used: “in front”, “behind”, “left”, “right”. The traditional color of the south pole of a magnet and the magnetic compass needle is red, and the north pole is blue. Red is traditionally associated with warmth, and blue with cold. And it almost turns out to be a complete ABX! In our country, for example, in the summer the sun rises and sets in the north.

Well, what to do when the question being solved is not from the multiplication table, but the question of “Life and Death”? 1. Compass. Of course, on any trip it is better to take a compass and a map of the area with you. 3. Determination of cardinal directions by the length of the shadow. Stick a stick 30-50 cm long into the ground. When the shadow from the stick is as short as possible, it means the sun is at its zenith.

Wait 15 minutes. Mark this position of the shadow with a stone. Now connect the first and second values with a stick. 1 shadow value – West, 2 – East. The main thing is to determine its location, and the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor will help us with this.

Orientation along clearings in the forest

I would like to draw your attention, dear readers, that among these programs there have been electronic compasses for a long time. I can’t help but mention that some smartphones support GPS navigation, so if possible, download a GPS map to your phone, which will always come in handy on any trip.

Anthill. If we take into account anthills located deep in the forest, then, as a rule, they are built on the south side of the tree. In addition, the anthill has a gentle slope on the south side, and a sharper one on the north. Moss. Mosses and lichens mainly cover the north side of stones, trees, stumps and other objects.

In hot summer weather, resinous discharge appears on the pillars of coniferous trees (pine, spruce, etc.) on the south side. Mushrooms. Mushrooms in most cases grow at the root of the tree on the North side. Sunflowers. Sunflowers in their blooming state are directed to the East. If you look at the stump, then, as a rule, their center is shifted to the north. I didn’t know that you could so easily determine the cardinal directions by the hands of a clock. Thank you for the article.

Orientation by the North Star

Place the compass horizontally and remove the arrow from the stopper. When the arrow settles, it will show a north-south direction, with the red end of the arrow pointing north.

If you stand facing north, then the west will be on the left, the east will be on the right. It is possible to orient the map without a compass using local objects, but with a small map scale this is difficult. The angle between the hour hand and the 14 o'clock direction (for Russia after the permanent transition to daylight saving time in 2011) is divided in half.

Orientation on the map

The North Star is always in the north. If, due to cloudiness, the stars are not visible, but the Moon is visible, then the cardinal directions can be determined by it, although the Moon is less convenient for this purpose. Therefore, in the south, where the Sun is at noon (13 or 14 o'clock), the Moon is at midnight (1 or 2 o'clock in the morning). At about 7–8 o’clock the full Moon is in the west, and at 19–20 o’clock it is in the east.

And the map itself is already oriented according to the cardinal directions as usual: top-north, bottom-south, left-west, right-east. On star maps, east and west are reversed: the map “appears” to be located not under, but above the observer. These plants are very light-loving, therefore, even if the sun is hidden behind the clouds, they still “look” in its direction: to the east (7–8 o’clock), to the south (at 13–14 o’clock), to the west (19–20 o’clock ).

How to determine the cardinal directions using a compass

A compass is a device designed to determine the cardinal directions and navigate the terrain. All magnetic compasses have a needle, and most models have a disk with a scale, numbers and letters printed on it. We will talk further about what they mean, how to use them and how to use a compass to find out the location of the cardinal directions - north, south, east and west.

The direction of south or north on the compass is indicated by an arrow, and the scale is then “adjusted” to it.

compass needle

The needle is the main element of any magnetic compass, although there are models in which the needle forms one whole with a disk on which a scale is applied.

The arrow always turns along the Earth's magnetic field lines, which means it shows the approximate direction to the Earth's poles. While one end of the arrow points north, the other end will point south.

In the literature you can find information that the red end of the arrow points to the north, but this is not always the case. The manufacturer decides what color to paint the northern part of the needle, and this often does not coincide with what is written in various sources. In addition, sometimes the arrow is painted in colors that do not include red, for example, blue, white, black or even green.

One of the simple ways to figure out which part of the arrow is north, that is, points to the north, is to go outside with a compass at lunchtime in clear weather. The order of further actions is as follows:

See which side the Sun is on. At this time, the star is located close to the south direction.
Take the compass in your hand and place it in a horizontal position with the arrow pointing upward.
If the compass is equipped with a locking lever, then “disable” it: the needle should be able to rotate freely on the pin. After this, the arrow will be positioned in the north-south direction.
Determine the northern and southern parts of the arrow: the end of the arrow that will be directed towards the Sun will be southern, and the opposite end will be northern.

It should be noted that this rule is indicated for the countries of the former CIS; in the tropics and in the southern hemisphere it may not work due to the fact that the Sun at noon may be in this area not in the south, but in the north. This is important to consider in order to avoid mistakes.

There is another method, but it is more complex, although it allows you to determine the northern direction in both the northern and southern hemispheres at any latitude. To do this, in the morning - around 6 am - you need to stand so that the Sun is on the right. In this case, the north will be in the face of the person conducting the experiment. Accordingly, the part of the compass needle pointing “forward” will be north.

Now that you have decided on the sides of the arrow, you can use a compass to determine the location of the cardinal points. For this:

The compass is taken in the hand and placed horizontally.
The arrester, if provided in the design, is disabled to allow the needle to rotate and indicate the direction of north and south.
The north direction is determined by the arrow readings.
The person faces north.
All other cardinal directions are determined: south will be behind, east will be to the right, and west will be to the left.

When working with a compass, you should avoid the proximity of iron, steel and other objects that have a significant magnetic field (for example, knives, mobile phones, vehicles, railway tracks), as well as wires carrying electric current (for example, power lines) . All these objects can distort compass readings.

Scale and letters

The compass disk, located under the arrow, is often lined. Most often, rumbas and a scale are applied to the disc.

The “star” inside the scale is a collection of points.

Rumbas indicate the cardinal directions, of which the main four are - north, east, south and west - although there are often intermediate ones corresponding to the northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest. In total, there are thirty-two points of reference, which can be found on some “sea” compasses.

Depending on the compass model, directions can be indicated by letters from the alphabets of different languages. I came across two varieties: in one, the rumbas were written in Russian, in the other - in Latin.

Compass with symbols on the scale in Russian.

Let's look at the four main rumbas in different variations:

N (North) or C (North);
E (East) or B (East);
S (South) or Yu (South);
W (West) or W (West).

To use compass points to navigate to the cardinal points, you need to hold the compass in a horizontal position and turn with it so that the northern end of the arrow points to “N” or the corresponding letter of the Russian alphabet “C”.

As soon as this happens, the reference points on the compass disk will correspond to the cardinal directions.

By the way, you can determine the cardinal directions using a magnetic compass not only in open space, but also in closed space, for example, in a dense forest, in an apartment, in caves, catacombs and under water. In all these cases the compass will work equally well. The main thing to remember is to keep your distance from sources of magnetic fields.

The scale marked on the compass disk is usually presented either in degrees or in thousandths and is needed to determine azimuths to an object or select the direction of movement. With its help, more complex problems are solved than determining the cardinal directions, which we discussed in a separate article...

This is the basics of working with a magnetic compass. Anyone, even the most unprepared person, can master it within a few minutes. However, despite its simplicity, this knowledge is fundamental for such a difficult discipline as orienteering, and gives the beginner at the very first stages a feeling of self-confidence, which is so necessary to begin learning and mastering more complex techniques in the future.