northeast

Northeast is a compass direction located between north and east. It is one of the intercardinal points on a compass, commonly abbreviated NE. On a standard 360-degree compass, northeast corresponds to 45 degrees clockwise from north.

As a geographic term, northeast describes a region that lies to the northeast of a reference point. The exact extent of a northeast region varies by country or context, and it can refer to a directional quadrant, a cultural region, or a political subdivision.

In the United States, the Northeast is a common regional designation that includes New England and the Mid-Atlantic states. Boundaries differ by organization, but it generally covers states from Maine to Maryland or Pennsylvania. The region is characterized by dense urban areas and long-standing historical development.

Northeast China, or Dongbei, consists of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces. It experiences cold winters and a heavy industrial legacy. Northeast India refers to the easternmost part of the country, including states such as Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, and Tripura, noted for ethnic and cultural diversity and complex geography.

Other uses include Northeast England in the United Kingdom, a region that includes counties such as Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and County Durham; and the Nordeste or Northeast region of Brazil, which comprises several states along the Atlantic coast. The term is widely used in geography, politics, and everyday language to denote a direction or regional designation.