Compass rose

A compass rose, or compass card, is a figure displaying the orientation of the cardinal directions, north, south, east and west on a map. Naming all 32 points on the rose is called boxing the compass. A fleur-de-lis figure, evolved from the initial T in the north wind's name Tramontana, is sometimes used to indicate the north direction. Similarly, on old maps the east was marked with an L for Levante, or with a + indicating the direction of Jerusalem from the point of view of western Europe's countries.

Related Topics:
Cardinal direction - Map - Boxing the compass - Fleur-de-lis - Jerusalem

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The "rose" term arises from the fairly ornate figures used with early compasses. Today the use and idea of a compass rose is found on or features in almost all navigation systems, including nautical charts, NDB and VOR systems, some GPS sets and similar.

Related Topics:
Compass - Nautical chart - NDB - VOR - GPS

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