cardinaldirection
Cardinal directions are the four main points used to describe direction and location on the Earth’s surface: north, south, east, and west. The term cardinal comes from Latin cardinalis, meaning hinge or principal, reflecting their role as primary reference directions. In navigation and cartography they form the basis of the compass rose and are used to describe bearing, routes, and the orientation of maps.
On most compasses, these directions correspond to the four cardinal points at 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°.
Geography distinguishes true north (the geographic north pole) from magnetic north (the direction indicated by a
Usage extends across navigation, surveying, meteorology, and aviation, where cardinal directions provide a stable frame of