Directions
In order to describe the location of a place,
we need to measure its direction in
relation to other places.
There are 3 ways to show directions:
1. Compass Point
2. Whole Circle Bearing
3. Reduced Bearing
Compass Point
The 8 basic compass points are:
North, South, East, West.
Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest.
We then add 8 more compass points to the basics:
North northeast (NNE) – between N and NE
East northeast(ENE) – between E and NE
East southeast(ESE) – between E and SE
South southeast(SSE) – between S and SE
South southwest(SSW) – between S and SW
West southwest(WSW) – between W and SW
West northwest(WNW) – between W and NW
North northwest(NNW) – between N and NW
Whole Circle Bearing
The way to show direction by measuring
degrees from the north in a clockwise
direction.
Reduced Bearing
The way to show direction by measuring
degrees to the east and west from either the
north or the south.
In the left diagram, "N 49° W" is a bearing or direction of
49° east of north.
The full circle bearing of “N 49° E" would be 49°
In the right diagram, "S 70° W" is a bearing or direction
of 70° west of south.
The full circle bearing of "S 70° W" would be 250°
- Whole Circle Bearing is always counted in a
clockwise direction from compass north.