First of all, the North is called that because it is the direction in which the country of Norway is located: Norwegian, Nordic… 😉
We don’t know who made the North up. But since ancient times, people thought that north was up and south was down.
There are 2 types of north on Earth:
Did you know? The term “north” is associated with two concepts: magnetic and geographic north. They are used interchangeably but in certain cases, depending on the geographical latitude, they should be taken into account to avoid taking the wrong orientation.
In any case…
Magnetic north on the compass is the point at which the Earth’s axis intersects the Earth’s magnetic field.
It is the north that the GPS tells you.
True north, on the other hand, is the point at which the Earth’s axis intersects the Earth’s equator.
The north of the Earth is the point at which the Earth’s axis reaches the North Pole, this Polar region being the furthest from the Sun.
Why does the compass always point north?
The compass points to magnetic north, the point where the Earth’s axis intersects the Earth’s magnetic field. This is because the magnetic field is an invisible force that surrounds the Earth.
The Earth’s magnetic field is like a large invisible magnet that surrounds the entire Earth!
It’s like you have a big magnet in your hand and you can use it to orient yourself. The Earth’s magnetic field helps compasses indicate the direction of north and south. It is very important for migrating animals and for satellites that orbit the Earth.
How to know north and south without a compass?
There are several methods you can use to find out north and south without a compass. Here we explain some of them.
At night with Stars: You can locate the north at night by observing the stars: If you know how find the North Star, bingo! The rest is very easy.
In the middle of a forest: Most of the leaves on the trees grow towards the Sun. They point to the South. Also, log moss appears in humidity. This one points north.
In places where there are shadows: When it is noon, the Sun is at its highest and its shadow points south. Take advantage of it to know the rest of cardinal points.
If I am near a building: If you are looking for your house or any building in the cadastre (I will show you do it here), you will be able to see its orientation among other information.
Get your bearings using a mobile phone: Most mobile phones allow you to know which way is north. You can do it directly with this online compass.
Final conclusion
There are so many fun ways to find terrestrial north!
You can use the stars to locate the North Star at night, or watch how the leaves of the trees grow. trees in a forest.
You can also use the sun’s shadows to find south in the middle of the day, or look up a building in a land survey to see its orientation.
And if all else fails, you can always use the compass on your mobile phone. So next time you’re lost, remember these fun ways to find your way north!