Symbols on the compass in English translation. How to navigate correctly using a compass

Summer time is approaching, and that means outdoor recreation, walks and hikes in the forest. But while enjoying nature, we often forget about the danger. To avoid possible troubles, you need to be able to navigate natural conditions and find the right path.

And the best assistant in this is the familiar compass. There are, of course, GPS navigators, but their operating time is limited by battery charge, and the device itself can break from the slightest blow.

An ordinary compass is a fairly reliable device that can be bought at any sports store for a price of 100 rubles. Knowing how to use it, you will always be able to determine in which direction you should move and will not get lost even in an unfamiliar place.

Detailed instructions for using the compass

Compass arrows

1.​ Since the compass needle is sensitive to metal, never use compasses built into metal objects (knives, etc.). Even a needle brought to the compass causes its needle to spin. Therefore, make sure that there is nothing metal near the compass. Keep in mind that power lines and railway tracks also affect the magnetic needle, so you need to move about 40 meters away from them.

2.​ When using, the compass should be placed on a flat surface (for example, on the palm) and not moved. The exception is special compasses that can be used even while running.

3. Around the perimeter of the device you can see a dial - a circular scale with numbers that indicate an angle from 0 to 360 degrees.

4. Now we can find the cardinal directions. The colored compass needle indicates where North is. Most often this is a red arrow, but it can also have the shape of an arrow. If one arrow is blue and the other is red, then the blue one points to the North and the red one points to the South.

North on the compass is indicated by the letter N (from the English North) or C (from the Russian North). The south is marked with the letter S (from the English South) or Yu (from the Russian South). West is the letters W or Z, East is E or V.

If you stand facing North, then South will be behind you, West will be on your left, East will be on your right.

Sometimes this knowledge is already enough to avoid making one of the main mistakes of those who get lost - going in the opposite direction from the exit.

If you entered the forest after turning off a long straight road, then it is enough to remember in which direction you entered and, when returning, stick to the opposite direction.

For example, you entered a forest, moving north. This means that to return you need to go to the South - and you will definitely go out on your own road.

But usually we have to go not exactly to the North or, say, exactly to the West, but completely different directions. And here the concept of “Azimuth” is very useful to us.

What is Azimuth

From the point where you stand, mentally draw a line pointing to the North. Then, from the same point, draw a line along which you go forward. The angle between these lines is the Azimuth.

1.​ To determine the Azimuth along which you are walking, turn the compass so that its north arrow points to the North designation (that is, to the zero mark on the scale or the letter N or C).

From the center of the compass, mentally draw a line along which you are moving. This line, together with the north arrow, forms an angle. This angle is the Azimuth. Its value must be counted from the north hand (from the zero mark) in a clockwise direction.

You can simply look at the number on the compass scale that your imaginary line crossed. It shows the Azimuth value.

2.​ If you need to follow a certain Azimuth, then position the compass so that its north arrow points to the North designation (zero mark on the scale or the letter N).

Then measure the desired angle (Azimuth) on the scale, counting clockwise from the zero mark (letter N), or simply find the desired number on the scale. Next, draw a mental line from the center of the compass to this number on the scale and go in this direction.

3.​ The azimuth along which you are moving forward is the direct azimuth. To return back you need to go in the opposite direction, that is, along the reverse Azimuth, which is calculated as follows:

if the direct Azimuth is less than 180º, then
OA=PA+180º
if the direct azimuth is more than 180º, then
OA=PA-180º
Where OA is the reverse Azimuth, PA is the forward Azimuth.

For example, you walked forward along Azimuth 240º. This is direct azimuth. To return back, you need to follow the reverse Azimuth, which is 240º -180º = 60º.

4.​ However, constantly making such calculations is quite inconvenient. There is an easier way to find the reverse Azimuth.

To do this, when returning back, you need to follow the same Azimuth along which you walked forward, only now consider the south arrow as the north.

That is, if you walked forward along Azimuth 270º, then you return back along Azimuth 270º, only at the same time you treat the southern arrow as if it were northern.

Example. You have entered the forest, moving along an Azimuth of 270º.

  • To exit the forest, set the compass so that its southern (and not northern!) arrow points to the North designation (that is, to the zero mark on the scale or the letter N).
  • Now mentally measure an angle of 270 from the zero mark on the scale º (clockwise) or simply find the number 270 on the scale.
  • Then mentally draw a line from the center of the compass to this number (270 degrees). This is the direction in which you need to return back.

5.​ The technique, when we remember only the Azimuth of the entrance, and to exit we go along the reverse Azimuth, works if somewhere nearby there is a fairly long direct landmark (road, river, power lines, etc.). In this case, you only need to know the Azimuth of the entrance. Then you can wander in any direction without remembering them, since then, moving along the reverse Azimuth, you will definitely reach your landmark, only with some displacement.

Therefore, it is very useful before going out into nature to at least briefly glance at the map and remember such landmarks that you can later go to.

6.​ If there are no long straight landmarks nearby, then when moving it is necessary to record the distance traveled in each direction. That is, remember or write down each Azimuth and the distance you traveled along it. To return to the starting point you will need to go the same way, only in reverse order.

For example, you walked first 50 meters along an Azimuth of 80º, then 100 meters along an Azimuth of 300 º . To return to the starting point, you will need to walk 100 meters along the reverse Azimuth 120º (300º -180º=120º), and then 50 meters along the reverse Azimuth 100º (180º -80º =100º). Or simply turn the compass so that its south arrow points to the North symbol (that is, to the zero mark or the letter N), measure an angle of 300° from the zero mark and walk 100 meters in this direction. Then measure an angle of 80º from the zero mark and walk 50 meters in this direction.

Distance can be measured by counting steps

True, when picking berries and mushrooms, it is quite difficult to measure and calculate the distance traveled after each turn. In such cases, you can remember (or better yet, write down in a notebook) how many steps and in what direction you walked from one clearing to another.

Having reached the place you like, you need to put some noticeable object on the ground (for example, a bright bag), mark next to it the direction in which you were walking (for example, with a stick), and collect berries/mushrooms, keeping this object in sight. If we want to move further, we return to this object, measure and record a new Azimuth of movement and move on, measuring the distance.

7.​ It is very useful to practice working with Azimuths at home. Walk from room to room, recording the Azimuth and distance traveled (in steps). Then try to go all the way back, focusing only on your notes and determining the return Azimuth.
Then you will easily understand the meaning of Forward Azimuth, Reverse Azimuth and see how it works.

Calculation of azimuth by magnetic declination

There are a few more important points.

1. All maps assume that North is straight up. This is the geographic North, the place where the meridians converge.
But due to the peculiarities of the Earth’s magnetic field, the magnetic needle is directed not to the geographical, but to the magnetic North. It is slightly deviated from the geographical one. The magnitude of this deviation is called magnetic declination.

If the arrow is deviated from the geographic North to the east (that is, to the right), then the declination is eastern (positive); if the arrow is deviated to the west (that is, to the left), then the declination is western (negative).

Each region has its own magnetic declination. In the Moscow area it is positive (eastern) and is approximately +11º, in the St. Petersburg area it is approximately +10º, and in Irkutsk it is negative (western) and is approximately -3º. There are special maps and websites on the Internet where you can find out the magnetic declination in your region.

2. Azimuth calculated based on geographic north (on the map) is the true Azimuth. Azimuth calculated from magnetic north (by compass) is magnetic azimuth.

When using a compass with a map, take this into account and adjust your movement accordingly.

For example, you plan to follow your map at a True Azimuth of 30º. The magnetic declination in your region is positive +10º. This means, focusing on the compass, you will need to follow a magnetic Azimuth of 20º (30º -10º = 20º).

Thus, with a little practice and learning to use a compass, you will be able to hike as far as you like, and you will feel confident on any terrain, since you will always be able to find your way back.

A compass is a device designed to determine the cardinal directions and navigate the terrain. All magnetic compasses have a needle, and most models have a disk with a scale, numbers and letters printed on it. We will talk further about what they mean, how to use them and how to use a compass to find out the location of the cardinal directions - north, south, east and west.

The direction of south or north on the compass is indicated by an arrow, and the scale is then “adjusted” to it.

compass needle

The needle is the main element of any magnetic compass, although there are models in which the needle forms one whole with a disk on which a scale is applied.

The arrow always turns along the Earth's magnetic field lines, which means it shows the approximate direction to the Earth's poles. While one end of the arrow points north, the other end will point south.

In the literature you can find information that the red end of the arrow points to the north, but this is not always the case. The manufacturer decides what color to paint the northern part of the needle, and this often does not coincide with what is written in various sources. In addition, sometimes the arrow is painted in colors that have no place for red, for example, blue, white, black or even green.

One of simple ways To figure out which part of the arrow is north, that is, points to the north, is to go outside with a compass at lunchtime in clear weather. The order of further actions is as follows:

  1. See which side the Sun is on. At this time, the star is located close to the south direction.
  2. Take the compass in your hand and place it in a horizontal position with the arrow pointing upward.
  3. If the compass is equipped with a locking lever, then “disable” it: the needle should be able to rotate freely on the pin. After this, the arrow will be positioned in the north-south direction.
  4. Determine the northern and southern parts of the arrow: the end of the arrow that will be directed towards the Sun will be southern, and the opposite end will be northern.

It should be noted that this rule is indicated for the countries of the former CIS; in the tropics and in the southern hemisphere it may not work due to the fact that the Sun at noon may be in this area not in the south, but in the north. This is important to consider in order to avoid mistakes.

There is another method, but it is more complex, although it allows you to determine the northern direction in both the northern and southern hemispheres at any latitude. To do this, in the morning - around 6 am - you need to stand so that the Sun is on the right. In this case, the north will be in the face of the person conducting the experiment. Accordingly, the part of the compass needle pointing “forward” will be north.

Now that you have decided on the sides of the arrow, you can use a compass to determine the location of the cardinal points. For this:

  1. The compass is taken in the hand and placed horizontally.
  2. The arrester, if provided in the design, is disabled to allow the needle to rotate and indicate the direction of north and south.
  3. The north direction is determined by the arrow readings.
  4. The person faces north.
  5. All other cardinal directions are determined: south will be behind, east will be to the right, and west will be to the left.

When working with a compass, you should avoid the proximity of iron, steel and other objects with significant force. magnetic field(for example knives, mobile phones, vehicles, railways), as well as wires along which flows electricity(for example, power lines). All these objects can distort compass readings.

Scale and letters

The compass disk, located under the arrow, is often lined. Most often, rumbas and a scale are applied to the disc.

The “star” inside the scale is a collection of points.

Rumbas indicate the cardinal directions, of which the main four are - north, east, south and west - although there are often intermediate ones corresponding to the northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest. In total, there are thirty-two points of reference, which can be found on some “sea” compasses.

Depending on the compass model, directions may be indicated by alphabets different languages. I came across two varieties: in one, the rumbas were written in Russian, in the other - in Latin.

Compass with symbols on the scale in Russian.

Let's look at the four main rumbas in different variations:

  • N (North) or C (North);
  • E (East) or B (East);
  • S (South) or Yu (South);
  • W (West) or W (West).

In order to orient yourself to the cardinal points using compass points, you need to hold the compass in a horizontal position and turn with it so that the northern end of the arrow points to “N” or the corresponding letter of the Russian alphabet “C”. As soon as this happens, the reference points on the compass disk will correspond to the cardinal directions.

By the way, you can determine the cardinal directions using a magnetic compass not only in open space, but also in closed space, for example, in a dense forest, in an apartment, in caves, catacombs and under water. In all these cases the compass will work equally well. The main thing to remember is to keep your distance from sources of magnetic fields.

The scale marked on the compass disk is usually presented either in degrees or in thousandths and is needed to determine azimuths to an object or select the direction of movement. With its help, more complex tasks than determining the cardinal directions, which we talked about in

These are the basics of working with magnetic compass. Anyone, even the most unprepared person, can master it within a few minutes. However, despite its simplicity, this knowledge is fundamental for such a difficult discipline as orienteering, and gives a beginner a feeling of confidence in the very first stages. own strength, which is so necessary for starting training and mastering more complex techniques in the future.


The fastest and most reliable way to set the direction to the north and calculate your route is to use a compass. The magnetic end of the arrow, marked with red, blue, or fluorescent paint, will point north. The degree scale will help translate into numbers and record the chosen direction.

The scale of a conventional compass is divided into 360 degrees. Each degree corresponds to 1/360 of the horizon. Accordingly, there are 90 degrees on each side of the world. The countdown starts at 0 degrees, indicating north on the compass. In some imported compasses, its scale is divided into more exotic nautical bearings, each of which consists of eleven degrees. Therefore, in the “marine” compass scale there are not 360 degrees, but only 32 points, or it’s completely unclear where 60 points came from.

Main directions: North (N) is designated Nord (N), South (S) – South (S), East (E) – East (O), West (3) – West (W). Accordingly, the directions obtained by dividing each quarter of the horizon in half are called quarter directions. Nord-East (NO) - northeast, North-West (NW) - northwest, South-East (SO) - south-east, South-West (SW) - south-west. The average directions between the main and quaternary directions are indicated by three letters. For example, the average direction between NO and O is called East-Nord-East (ONO), etc. But in any case, North (Nord) is always zero. To simplify work with imported compasses, you can total divide the points into four (according to the cardinal directions) and relate them to the degree scale we are used to

Everything else is simple. The number “zero” on the degree scale is adjusted to the north arrow by turning the compass around its axis. The schematic map also turns with its top side facing north. On the scale of the compass placed on top of the map, a degree (or rhumb) corresponding to the selected direction is noted. For example, to the nearest locality. Now it is enough to set the sighting device (rear sight and front sight) on the chosen course and move in the indicated direction, but so that the northern end of the arrow is constantly in line with the marks at the zero mark on the scale. If the arrow leaves the target, it means that the person walking has lost his course.

Of course, the described scheme is extremely primitive. In the practice of travel, working with a map and compass acquires many objective and subjective difficulties. To understand them, it is better to turn to specialized literature on orienteering. In emergency conditions, it should be handled with particular care - stored in an inside pocket or under clothing on a strong cord. Carrying a compass in external pockets or on your hand is dangerous, as in this position it can easily be lost or broken. protective glass. If the compass is broken, you should find and save a magnetic needle, with which you can always make an improvised compass from scrap materials.

Based on materials from the book “School of Survival in Natural Conditions.”
Andrey Ilyin.

It was hard for travelers in ancient times! To determine direction, they navigated by the sun during the day and by the stars at night. But what to do if the whole sky is overcast and the weather stays like this for several days? There are ways to find cardinal directions by trees, moss and numerous other signs, but their accuracy is very low.

Nowadays, there is no need to use such methods, since humanity has invented a wonderful gift for everyone who goes on a long journey - a compass. It is not known who and when noticed that a magnetized piece of metal suspended on a thread is always located in the same position: one end to the north, the other to the south. This device became the progenitor of modern orientation devices.

What does a compass look like and what parts does it consist of?

The simplest compass is a magnetic needle that rotates freely on an axis. Have you ever tried to bring two magnets close to each other? On one side they repel, and on the other they attract. A compass works in exactly the same way. The role of one magnet is a magnetized arrow, and the role of the second is the planet Earth! Therefore, the compass needle always points to the North. There is also a liquid compass. It works in exactly the same way, it’s just that the arrow does not rest on the axis, but floats in the liquid. The viscous liquid allows you to avoid constant oscillations of the needle if you are trying to use the compass in shaking conditions (for example, in moving vehicles).

Using a compass, you can determine the location of the cardinal points, but this is clearly not enough for hiking in other directions, so In addition to the arrow, there are other parts in the design of the device. The compass is housed in a round plastic body with a transparent top through which you can see dial with divisions. To protect the fragile glass, some compasses have a cover. IN hiking conditions It can be difficult to find such a small but necessary device in a huge backpack, and the designers took care of tourists by providing it with a strap for wearing on the hand. On the side surface you can see a small metal plate, this brake, which secures the arrow in a stationary position. On the movable upper part there is a sighting device - two protrusions, one with a slot, the other with a front sight.

Let's understand the symbols on the compass

The letters on the compass indicate the cardinal directions. Let's look carefully at the limb: the starting point, the direction to the north, is usually indicated by the letter C, then clockwise at equal intervals by the letters B, S and W, the east, south and west are marked. On some compasses, the cardinal directions are indicated in English letters: N, S, E, W- they mean cardinal directions in English:

  • N orth - North
  • S outh - South
  • E ast — East
  • W est - West

As you know from the geometry course, a circle is divided into 360⁰, therefore, there are 90⁰ between the cardinal points. If you mark each degree with a corresponding number, visible to the naked eye, the dimensions of the compass will be too large, so marks are marked on the scale every 5⁰, and only values ​​that are multiples of twenty are labeled.

In the center of the dial there is a rotating arrow, the two halves of which are painted blue and red. The red arrow points to the South, blue to the North. Many people get confused, but it’s easy to remember: the South, where it’s warm, is indicated by “hot” red, and the North by “cold” blue. In most instruments, the needle, as well as the main points of the scale, are coated with phosphorus and glow in the dark.

Azimuth is the angle relative to the direction North


Cases when you need to go exactly south or north are very rare, so before you go on a hike, you need to learn how to walk in any direction using a compass. Azimuth will help us with this. To understand what it is, take a map and mark two points on it, let one of them indicate the place where you are, and the second indicate your destination. Connect them with a straight line, and from the point where you are, draw the beam exactly north. The angle between these two lines will be called azimuth, knowing it, you can get to places where the road to which is unknown to you.

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Orientation using a compass

Let's move on to practical issues - using a compass in hiking conditions. Let's say you find an interesting geographical object on the map and want to get to it. First you need to determine the azimuth.

  1. Determine your location on the map.
  2. Draw a line vertically upward from this point, this direction is north.
  3. Place a compass on the map so that its center lies on the point where you are, and the letter WITH(or N) – on the drawn line.
  4. Rotate the map until the compass needle points north (remember to release the brake).
  5. While looking through the slot at the front sight, rotate the top of the compass to bring the desired object into the “sight.”
  6. All that remains is to see what value the pointer arrow is pointing at. If it is between two numbers, take the smaller value; then count the number of divisions from the number to the arrow. Since each of these corresponds to 5⁰, multiply the resulting number by five and add to the value read on the scale.


Now you can write down the azimuth that you determined and put the map in your backpack; you don’t have to keep it in front of your eyes the whole way. You will know the direction of travel using the compass.

  1. Place the compass on a hard surface. If there are no rocks, stumps or similar objects nearby that are of suitable height, use a backpack standing on the ground. You can set the azimuth while holding the device in your hands, but this will create additional difficulties.
  2. Release the brake and align the blue end of the arrow with the letter WITH(or N).
  3. Place the pointer on the azimuth value.
  4. Look through the slot at the front sight and select a landmark.

You can hit the road. Once you reach a landmark, take out your compass and determine the next one. Continue until you come to Right place.

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The ability to determine azimuth can also be useful if a group is traveling without a map along a known route. Imagine that while you are high in the mountains, you go to explore the neighboring peak. We went lightly, because we expected to return in a few hours, but all plans were confused by clouds that suddenly covered the lowlands between the hills. It is unknown when they will leave, perhaps this weather will last for several days. What should I do? From above you can clearly see the mountain where the camp is located, but how to navigate in a valley filled with fog? Don’t worry, if you are sure that there are no dangerous cliffs or abysses on the way, your faithful friend the compass will lead you to the spot.

  1. Position the device so that the blue end of the arrow points to the letter WITH(or N).
  2. By rotating the top, direct the front sight to the parking area.
  3. Write down the azimuth value in case the pointer gets lost.
  4. When moving through the cloud, hold the compass in front of you, make sure the north end of the arrow is aligned with the letter C, and walk in the direction that the sighting device is pointing.

Of course, this method is not accurate enough, and it is better not to get into such situations, but if necessary, you can use it. If the distance is short, you won’t be able to pass by the mountain, but without a compass you can go somewhere unknown or circle in one place for an infinitely long time.

If anything is unclear or you want to reinforce the material, watch the video on how to use the compass:

Although progress spoils humanity with digital navigation methods, the classic compass with a magnetized needle is still in demand and reliable. Its operation does not require power, the presence of a satellite or a cell tower, so its needle is always able to point to the north magnetic meridian with its marked tip, while the other will point accordingly to the south.

The location of the cardinal directions is marked on the dial of the device, which helps you navigate if there is no magnetic interference. You just need to figure out what the directions on the compass are designated.

When orienting, you should always take into account that the directions shown by the compass do not completely coincide with the geographical ones, because the magnetized needle tends to be located along the magnetic meridian, indicating the geomagnetic poles of the planet, which are not identical to the geographical ones. This error in the cardinal directions on the compass has the definition of “magnetic declination”, which does not have a constant value.

How to find cardinal directions using a compass

The design of the compass is simple and ingenious - a magnetized needle, enclosed in a housing under a transparent cover in the center of the dial (dial), when released from the brake, will indicate the north pole with its north tail, and the south pole with its south tail. The dial is marked with letters indicating the cardinal directions. If the device is domestic, then the letters will be Russian, but if the device is not made here, then the letters will be Latin, according to international designations.

The dial has a circular scale equal to 360º, divided by four equal sectors, increasing clockwise. The scale step size may be different for each individual device, but in any case, each of the cardinal directions is indicated by certain degrees:

  • north - 0º;
  • south - 180º;
  • east - 90º;
  • west - 270º.

Determining the cardinal directions by the device is quite simple, but in order for the device to indicate the true direction, a number of simple rules must be followed.

  • The device must take a strictly horizontal position - for this it is either placed on a flat surface or held with an open palm, just below chest level.
  • There should be no magnetic interference nearby - power lines, railway tracks, accumulations of metal, other magnets, otherwise the arrow will point in the wrong direction.
  • As soon as the compass takes correct position, you need to release the arrester, which plays the role of a stopper or brake.
  • The released arrow, swaying, will take a confident position when the specially designated northern tail indicates north, and the opposite one indicates south.
  • Now you need to align the tails of the arrow with the cardinal directions marked on the dial.

In order to identify a route on the ground, you need to select the required direction of the path corresponding to the desired part of the map.

Designations on the compass cardinal directions

For the cardinal directions, international symbols have been adopted using letters on the compass, understandable to any population globe, but Russian-language designations are also possible.

  • The northern direction is indicated by the Latin N (north) or Russian S (north).
  • The southern direction is represented by the Latin S (south) or our Yu (south).
  • The eastern direction is marked with the Latin letter E (east) or the Russian letter B (east).
  • The western direction corresponds to the Latin letter W (west) or our Z (west).

In a clockwise direction it will look like this: at the top - N or C, further on the right side of the dial - E or B, at the bottom - S or Yu, on the left - W or Z.

The cardinal directions for both the map and globe, and for the compass and terrain, will be located the same:

  • if you stand facing north, the north pole will be straight ahead;
  • the south pole is behind;
  • east direction - on the right hand;
  • West - on the left hand.

Note! Due to the presence of magnetic declination, the compass does not show directions accurately!

Compass error - magnetic declination

Considering that the device will indicate the geographical cardinal directions, in fact they will be slightly shifted by a certain amount in degrees. Since the power and geographic poles of our planet do not coincide, it is necessary to make corrections when accurately calculating the azimuth before the upcoming long route. If the path ahead is not too long, and the declination does not exceed 10º, then you can do without corrections.

  • Magnetic declination is usually indicated outside the map fields for a specific area.
  • If there is none, it can be found in the reference book - magnetic observatories constantly report information about the value in degrees of magnetic declination characteristic of a certain area.
  • A distinction is made between eastern declination, when the device's needle deviates from the north geographic pole towards the east, and western declination, when the arrow deviates towards the west.

Note! The eastern declination is indicated by a plus (+), and the western declination by a minus (-). Correction for its value, calculated using the device, will help determine the true directions of the cardinal points.

Magnetic and geographic azimuth

The path is calculated before traveling in azimuth, and according to it they move around the area. The calculated azimuth angle is the value in degrees obtained between the meridian and the direction of the path to the desired object. The azimuth found on the map will be true, and the one obtained using a compass will be magnetic.

  • The map shows true meridians converging at the point of the true geographic pole. Therefore, the angle between the meridian going north and the direction of the path obtained from the map will differ from the angle found from the instrument, since the compass needle is located along the magnetic, and not at all geographical, meridian.
  • If there is an eastern magnetic declination in a given area, then its value must be subtracted from the azimuth obtained using a compass in the area so that its value coincides with the true azimuth found on the map. That's why it is marked with a - (minus) sign.
  • If there is a western deviation in a given area, then its value must be added to the magnetic azimuth in order to arrive at the true value. That's why it's marked with a + (plus) sign.

Corrections for magnetic declination provide a guarantee that the route will pass within the intended limits and will correspond to true geographical landmarks, and the path will not deviate from the map.