cardinalpoint

A cardinal point, or cardinal direction, is one of the four main points of a compass: north, east, south, and west. The term cardinal is derived from Latin cardinalis, meaning principal or hinge, reflecting their role as the primary directions for orientation.

In addition to the four cardinal points, navigation recognizes intercardinal (or ordinal) directions such as northeast, southeast, northwest, and southwest, as well as more granular secondary points. These related terms help describe precise bearings and navigate more accurately in both land and sea contexts.

Cardinal points are fundamental to maps, navigation, and geography, providing a framework for determining location, bearings, and direction for travel, surveying, and meteorology. They also serve as reference axes in various disciplines, including astronomy and aviation.

Determination and orientation can involve true north versus magnetic north. True north points toward the geographic North Pole, while magnetic north is the direction indicated by a compass needle and varies by location and over time due to changes in the Earth's magnetic field. Navigators must account for magnetic declination when converting between compass readings and geographic bearings.

Historically, cardinal points were established through celestial observations—such as using Polaris to find north, or measuring the sun’s azimuth—before the advent of modern technology. Today, satellite navigation, digital compasses, and geographic information systems provide precise and easily accessible references to cardinal directions.