cardinal directions

In geography, the four principal directional indicators are marked as points or arrowheads on a traditional magnetic compass rose. Called cardinal directions, they are north, east, south and west. Though the names may seem arbitrary, there are simple specific means to establish each direction, which should work anywhere on Earth where there is a view of the sky. North and south are oriented toward the respective poles of the Earth. The Earth's rotation defines the orientation of east and west.
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