Knowing how to tell which way is north is a fundamental skill for navigation and survival. It allows individuals to orient themselves in unfamiliar territory, determine their direction of travel, and find their way back to safety. Various methods can be employed to determine the direction of north, each with its advantages and limitations.
The most common and accessible method is using a compass. A compass is a device that uses a magnetized needle to align itself with the Earth’s magnetic field, which points towards the magnetic north pole. While magnetic north and true north are not exactly the same, the difference is usually negligible for most practical purposes.
