To many it may seem that talking about a compass rose could very well be from a sailor movie or a book from a distant era. But the truth is that these circles in which the cardinal points are drawn are much more useful than you can imagine.
Underestimating the interpretation of the different cardinal points is a mistake, especially if you practice mountain sports or outdoors where knowing how to orient yourself in certain situations can be of vital importance.
Compass roses are usually drawn on compasses. They all have a characteristic, regardless of the aspect that their interpretation acquires, and that is that in all of them the four main cardinal points appear: north, south, east and west. The fact that only these four points appear is rare because, since you have knowledge about orientation, the most common thing is that you get one that is complete.
And the wind roses can include all the following points, up to 32, so that we can guide ourselves in the most concrete way wherever we want to go:
- Lateral directions of the compass rose:
SE (southeast)
SW (southwest)
NO (northwest)
- Collateral directionsof the compass rose:
NNE (Northnortheast)
NE (North-East)-Northeast
ENE (East-northeast)
This (E)
ESE (East-southeast or East-southeast)
SE (South-East)-Southeast or Southeast
SSE (Southeast or SouthSoutheast)
South (S)
SSO/SSW (South-southwest or South-southwest)
SW/SW (South-West)-Southwest/Southwest
WSW/WSW (Westsouthwest or Westsouthwest)
West (W)
WNW/WNW (West-Northwest) NW/NW (North-West)-Northwest
NNW/NNW (North-Northwest)
- Co-collateral directions of the compass rose:
0 North, N
1 North by North-East, NpNE
2 North North-East, NNE
3 North-East by North, NEpN
4 North-East, NE
5 North-East by East, NEpE
6 East North-East, JAN
7 East by North-East, EpNE
8 This, E
- Second quadrant
8 This, E
7 East by South-East, EpSE
6 East South-East, ESE
5 South-East by East, SEpE
4 South-East, SE
3 South-East by South, SEpS
2 South South-East, SSE
1 South by South-East, SpSE
0 South, S
- Third quadrant
0 South, S
1 South by South-West, SpSO
2 South South-West, SSO
3 South-West through the South, SOpS
4 South-West, SW
5 South-West by West, SOpO
6 West South-West, OSO
7 West by South-West, OpSO
8 West, O
- Fourth quadrant
8 West, O
7 West by North-West, OpNO
6 West North-West, WNW 5 North-West by West, NOpO
4 North-West, NO
3 North-West by North, NOpN
2 North North-West, NNW
1 North by North-West, NpNO
0 North, N
It is very useful to recognize the different cardinal points of a compass rose, especially in activities we do outdoors. Following the correct course can save us from an unexpected loss in the middle of a hiking route or make us an expert in orientation. But without a doubt, the first thing you should do is follow the guidelines of an expert who will know how to teach you in the best way how to interpret it. We make it even easier for you and tell you where to find the best orientation activities in our country by just clicking here.
Luckily for you, and although in the vast majority of adventures abroad the sports technicians in charge of the expedition carry with them all the collective material that you will use (such as a compass), the truth is is that having a compass rose today does not depend exclusively on having one of these devices or not. On most mobile devices and even by downloading apps you can have a compass rose on your own mobile phone. Of course, don't forget to carry it fully charged to avoid unforeseen events that could give you a real scare if you get lost. And you? Are you one of those who know how to find their way or one of those who always get lost?
