Directions
Introduction
Knowing about direction and understanding how to use a compass are important skills for geography students. This chapter briefly explains the origin, structure and function of a compass. It also outlines the significance of directions on a map and the way that it can be orientated using a compass or a wrist watch.
Compass
The four directions of north, south, east and west are referred to as cardinal points. The directions located exactly halfway between each of the cardinal points are called ordinal points (also intermediate directions). They are north-east, south-east, south-west and north-west. This system of direction enables people to describe and explain where things are located in proximity to other things in the world. These directions have become a generally accepted convention, particularly in Western society.
In ancient times, sailors relied on the position of the sun and stars to assist them in navigating their ships. This method, however, was not particularly efficient in stormy seas and cloudy or foggy conditions, since the weather would obscure the celestial bodies from view. Around 1700 years ago in ancient China, a device was developed which made navigation more accurate and maritime travel safer. This device became known as the compass.
A compass (also known as the mariner's compass) has a magnetised needle which always points towards the Earth's magnetic North Pole. This is known as the direction of magnetic north. Magnetic north is the point on the Earth where its magnetic field points directly downwards. Unlike the geographic North Pole, the magnetic North Pole is always changing positions. The geographic North Pole is where the Earth's axis of rotation meets the Earth's surface at its most northern point. This direction is called true north.
See image 1
To provide accuracy, on a modern compass a bearing (angle) is provided. A bearing is given using the cardinal points, which are represented in degrees. Bearings are measured clockwise, with north corresponding to 0o (and 360o), east: 90o, south: 180o and west: 270o. Another unit of an angle is a minute. Minutes provide even greater accuracy than degrees, with 1 degree equalling 60 minutes.
See image 2
Direction on maps
All maps should have a direction (also known as an orientation) visible on them. Rather than showing all of the points on a compass, some maps only have a north point. Once north is provided, the directions of south, east and west can be easily calculated using simple logic.
Despite the Earth being a sphere (that is, without a top or a bottom), in modern Western culture it has become an accepted convention that north is equal to the top. Consequently, on most modern maps which are without a direction, north is generally identified with the top edge of the page. The origin of this practice is thought to extend as far back as the second century AD to Greek astronomer Ptolemy (90-168 AD).
Of the few maps which do not feature north at the top are medieval Arab and European maps, old Japanese maps of Edo (former name of Tokyo) and two types of modern map projections of the Earth (azimuthal equidistant and dymaxion). There are also some maps, which are either created as political statements or a novelty souvenir for tourists (usually to Australia), that reverse the projection of the Earth by placing the south on top.
See image 3
How to orientate your map
When a person turns their map around so that its north point is aligned with north on the ground, the map is said to be orientated. There are a number of ways in which a person can orientate their map. One way to do this is by placing a compass on the map and turning the map around until the top of the map points in the same direction as the compass needle.
***Hint: the top of a map can be determined when the words or icons are positioned the correct way up (they are readable).
Another way to orientate a map is by using the sun and an analogue wrist watch. If a person points the hour hand (smaller hand) on his or her watch towards the sun, south will always be half way between 12 and the hour hand. North will be in the exactly opposite direction of south.
