What are Cardinal Points on a map?

Preparing for the Grade 9 Canadian Geography Exam? Study with engaging questions and thorough explanations to ace your test. Enhance your geography skills now!

Multiple Choice

What are Cardinal Points on a map?

Cardinal points are the four main directions used for orientation on maps: north, south, east, and west. They provide the basic frame for aligning a map with the real world, with north typically at the top so you can compare features on the map to what you see around you. These directions help you describe locations and are the starting point for using more specific bearings or coordinates. Intermediary directions like northeast come from halfway between the cardinal points, while lines of longitude are north–south lines used to measure east–west position, and the poles are the ends of the Earth's axis, not directions themselves. So the four main directions on a compass are the cardinal points.

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