What Is the Compass Rose Used For?
The compass rose first materialized on maps in at least as early as the 14th century. The figure is referred to as a "rose" owing to the point's resemblance to the flower.
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Purpose
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The compass rose is included on a map to familiarize the user with the cardinal directions in relation to the map. This was especially useful before the now common technique of creating maps with North at the top of the page.
Origins
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The compass rose was originally called a "wind rose" and was used on early charts to orient the user to the direction of the winds. Wind directions were thought to be fixed. Later, with the invention of the compass and understanding of magnetic North, cartographers began including the compass rose to validate map direction.
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Compass Rose Directions
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The main directions: North, South, East and West are known as cardinal directions. Northwest, Northeast, Southwest and Southeast are known as primary intercardinal directions. While rarely used, the compass rose includes directions between these known as secondary intercardinal directions. These include: North-northeast, North-northwest, South-southeast and South-southwest.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Black compass rose image by Makhnach from Fotolia.com
