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Step 1
Pay attention to major landmarks, which include oceans, rivers and mountains. Included on a United States map would be the Rocky and Appalachian Mountains, the Mississippi River and the Grand Canyon.
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Step 2
Establish smaller landmarks like fields, trees or buildings, which also provide bearings. A landmark should be something different or distinct about one area to help distinguish places. A water tower makes a good landmark if your town only has one water tower.
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Step 3
Follow the stars. The placement of constellations like Orion's belt, one of the easiest constellations to locate, helps you get around without a map. Once you locate the constellation, use it as a reference to mark which direction you travel.
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Step 4
Know how to use landmarks to tell direction. In some areas, the mountains always appear on the west. Once you establish the direction, which can be done by asking locals, use the landmark to determine which direction you need to go.
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Step 5
Determine direction by the wind, which generally moves east along the equator. In temperate regions, the wind moves west and in the tropics, it tends to move northeast or southeast. Winds from the north often feel colder. To determine the normal direction of the wind, look at trees to see which side looks less full.
