Hauptkompasspunkte

Hauptkompasspunkte is a German term meaning “main compass points” and is used to describe the principal directions used for orientation in navigation and geography. In most usages, the term refers to the four cardinal directions: Nord (N), Ost (O), Süd (S), and West (W). On maps and compasses these directions form the primary reference frame, often depicted in a compass rose or windrose. Depending on the discipline, the scope of the term may vary: some authors reserve Hauptkompasspunkte strictly for the cardinal directions, while others include the intercardinal points (Nordost, Südost, Südwest, Nordwest) as secondary or additional reference points.

The Hauptkompasspunkte are defined relative to geographical north, i.e., true north, though in practical navigation the magnetic north or a local grid north may be used as a reference, which can lead to differences. In instructional contexts, Hauptkompasspunkte are used to teach bearing, azimuths, and directional relationships, and they serve as a basis for more detailed subdivisions such as the eight principal compass points or junior subdivisions.

The term is primarily used in German-language sources in geography, cartography, surveying, and orienteering. Because there is no universally binding standard that strictly distinguishes Hauptkompasspunkte from related concepts in all fields, readers should consult discipline-specific definitions when precision is required. See also compass rose, cardinal directions, intercardinal directions, bearing.