Determining your location relative to the cardinal points is very important. This is vital in order to navigate the terrain when hiking, and in any unfamiliar cities it is often helpful to have an idea of which direction the north is.
Compass
The most reliable way to understand how the cardinal points are located is to use a compass. If you have one, place the device horizontally so that nothing prevents the arrows from moving. Once they have calmed down, turn the compass so that the north direction matches the compass mark. North is N, not S, it is important to remember this, as people often get confused.
Keep metal objects away from the compass. A railroad bed or power line knocks down the readings of the device. If you are taking your compass on a hike, choose a device that is free of metal. For example, a compass can be embedded in a metal knife or watch cover as a decoration. But any metal introduces inaccuracy in the compass, so the case for this device is made of non-metallic materials.
It happens that you need to get your bearings, but there is no compass at hand. In this case, a smartphone with a GPS navigator or a navigator without a smartphone can help. Such devices already have a built-in compass. Thanks to them, you can not only determine the cardinal points, but also understand how to get to the place you need.
If there is no compass
When a compass is not at hand, a clear sky overhead is useful. At night, you can navigate by the polar star: it always points to the north, if you turn to face it. To find her, look for the Big Dipper. Then imagine that a straight line connects the two outermost stars of the "bucket". Following the direction of this line, measure approximately 5 distances between the outermost stars of the Big Dipper. You will get exactly to the pole star. It is quite easy to determine what it is she is - this is one of the brightest stars in the sky.
In the daytime, you can navigate by the sun. At noon, the sun points to the south, in the morning it is in the east, and in the evening it is in the west.
Cardinal points in the forest
In nature, you can navigate by special features. Note the moss on the trees. It is usually located on the north side, as it hides from the sun. There are usually more branches on the south side of the tree, and they are often longer. If you see a tree stump, you will notice that the annual rings are wider on the south side. The birch is always darker in the northern part.
Ants also build their nests in accordance with the cardinal points. The southern side of an anthill is usually flat, but in its northern part there is often a tree or a large stone.
