What is Cardinal direction?
[[File:CompassRose (mul) 16 blue neutral.svg|thumb|200px|right|A [[compass rose]] showing the cardinal directions]] '''Cardinal directions''' or '''cardinal points''' are the four main directions or points of the compass: [[north]], [[east]], [[south]] and [[west]]. These direction are also written in short form as '''N''', '''E''', '''S''' and '''W'''. North and south are directed towards the north and south [[Geographical pole|poles]] of the [[Earth]]. The Earth's rotation defines east and west. The sun rises in the morning in the east, and sets in the afternoon in the west. If a needle is [[magnetism|magnetised]] and allowed to move freely (for example floated on water) it will align itself with the Earth's [[magnetic field]] which is almost in the same direction as north. The direction of the needle in this situation is called [[North Magnetic Pole|magnetic north]] which in some places differs from the direction of the [[North Pole]] by a few [[degree (geometry)|degrees]]. == Cardinal directions in world cultures == Through history, different [[culture]]s have given different values to each direction. For example, in old [[Asia]]n culture, each direction is given a color, as follows: * '''East''': [[Green]] or [[Blue]] * '''South''': [[Red]] * '''West''': [[White]] * '''North''': [[Black]] ==Related pages== * [[Latitude]] * [[Longitude]] * [[Compass]] {{directions}} {{geo-stub}} [[Category:Compass directions]]