Modern man is moving more and more away from nature, stops feeling it. No wonder. After all, the connection with nature is lost as we become familiar with modern technologies, the comfort and convenience that they create. But being cut off from all this, a person will become helpless; he will not even be able to orient himself in space and understand which way he needs to go.
In ancient times, people easily navigated space, as they were closely connected with nature. It was she who prompted them in the right direction at different times of the year. In this article we will describe the most famous signs of terrain orientation.
Sun orientation
1 way
Depending on the time of year, we observe sunrise and sunset in different places: In summer, sunrise is observed in the northeast, and sunset in the northwest; In autumn and spring, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west; In winter, sunrise occurs in the southeast and sunset in the southwest.
Method 2
If you took a wristwatch with you, then this will greatly facilitate the task of spatial orientation in sunny weather. Point the hour hand of your watch towards the sun. Then visually divide the angle between the hour hand and the number 1 (13 o'clock in the afternoon) into 2 equal parts. This dividing line will indicate the directions - south in front, north in back. An important point is that before one o’clock in the afternoon the left corner should be divided, and after one o’clock the right corner should be divided.
Orientation by the stars
In the northern hemisphere. In case you need help finding your way at night in the northern hemisphere, the North Star will help you. To begin with, you need to find the constellation Ursa Major, the photo of which you see below. After this, you need to mentally imagine a line and draw it through 2 stars located on the edge on the right side of the bucket. This line is visually extended by 5 segments equal to the distance between these stars. And at the very end of this line there will be the polar star, which is located in the constellation Ursa Minor. Turning to face it, you will be looking north. 
In the southern hemisphere. The locations of stars in the southern and northern hemispheres differ significantly from each other. If in the northern hemisphere we were guided by the Big Dipper, which is well known to almost every person, then in the southern hemisphere our guide is the constellation of the Southern Cross. This constellation consists of 5 bright stars. 4 of them are the extreme points of the cross. Through these points it is necessary to draw 2 lines forming a cross. It turns out that one line of this cross is much longer than the other - we see, as it were, a cross with a handle for holding. This same handle needs to be continued further, increasing it 4 times and lowering it vertically to the horizon line. The point where this line touches the horizon will point south.
Orientation by the moon
It is important to navigate by the moon when, due to clouds covering the sky, other luminaries are not visible on it. To determine the cardinal directions, you need to know what phase the moon is in at the moment. A young waxing moon can be seen in the western sky, decreasing - in the east. In the evening, the first quarter of the moon is in the south. Also, during the full moon at 1 am and in the third quarter phase at 7 am, the moon is on the south side.
Plant orientation
Mushrooms and moss. Usually mushrooms and moss grow under trees or on stumps. But have you noticed that most of these plants are concentrated on only one side of the tree or stump? The fact is that moss and mushrooms love to grow on the north side. Therefore, this simple and correct way of orienting oneself in space was very common in ancient times, when people often went into the forest to pick berries and mushrooms. There are usually significantly fewer mushrooms on the western or eastern side of trees or stumps than on the northern side. And on the south side they generally grow very rarely, especially if the summer is dry and hot. Particular attention should be paid to red saffron milk caps, since they grow in the same place every year. Mushrooms growing on the south side have a blue-greenish color and a rough, dry surface, despite the fact that the mushroom itself is juicy and red when cut.
Berries. Berries, like mushrooms, were considered good guides many centuries ago. In open forest clearings, berries (cranberries, lingonberries, cloudberries, blueberries, blueberries) ripened faster on the south side. Accordingly, north is in the opposite direction. And in the forest on the south side, the berries warm up better and ripen faster than on the north side.
Grass. Spring grass cover tends to be thicker on shady, north-facing sites. In summer, around trees, pillars, large stones, stumps, the density of grass seems uniform, but if you look closely, you will notice that on the south side the grass cover is much thicker than from the north. From mid-summer, due to the abundance of sun, the grass begins to acquire a yellow tint. And only on the northern side does it remain green for a long time.
Tree bark. You can tell where north and south are by looking at the bark of a tree. For greater reliability, 3-4 trees should be studied. On the north side the bark is darker in color and is covered with moss, and on the south side, on the contrary, the bark is lighter and harder.
Birch. Birch is an amazing tree, kind, light and clean. This light-loving Russian beauty is an excellent helper for those who are lost. On the southern side, the birch bark is much cleaner, smoother and lighter than on the northern side, where there are various roughnesses and damages. In particularly hot conditions, birch adapts to elevated temperatures. Its trunks seem to lean towards the north. In this case, the branches of the birch can even touch the ground.
Tree crown and tree rings. It is popularly believed that on the southern side the crown of trees is voluminous and thicker, and the annual rings of the tree trunk are wider. But everything is not as clear as it seems at first glance. These indicators have different values in different climatic conditions. For example, in the southern zones, where dry summers are observed, annual rings are thicker on the north side. On the same side there is also a more pronounced crown of the tree. And in cool places, where there is less heat and light, on the contrary, the tree is more developed on the south side. That is, it turns out that the tree develops more favorably on the side where it feels comfortable in certain climatic conditions.
So, now you have an idea of terrain orientation in different seasons and days, as well as in different climatic conditions. This simple information can serve you as a good help if you find yourself alone with nature without any guiding devices.
Or perhaps you have already encountered such a situation and you know about all this first-hand. Maybe you even have some observations of your own that can help you find the right direction without modern devices. In that case, we will be glad if you share this valuable information with us.
You can navigate:Pabout the Sun.According to the Sun and the clock.According to the North Star.By the Moon.
By melting snow.By the shadow.
By compass.
- SUN ORIENTATION
- In northern latitudes on summer nights, from the proximity of the setting Sun to the horizon, the northern side of the sky is the lightest, the southern side is darker.
- The highest position of the Sun is determined by the length of the shortest shadow, which corresponds to noon, and its direction in the northern hemisphere points to the north. This is only true between the North Pole and the Tropic of the North. The rule is applicable in the following cases:
a) when the Sun is at its zenith (shadow at the base of the object);
b) at the equator, where the midday shadow is directed north for half a year (from 24
September to March 20) and Half a Year South (from March 21 to September 23);
c) in latitudes between the equator and the tropics, where the shadow also changes direction.
In the southern hemisphere, on the contrary, the shadow points south.
With relative accuracy, the sides of the horizon can be determined by the Sun using a watch. To do this, holding the watch horizontally, you need to turn it so that the hour hand is directed towards the Sun. In this case, the bisector of the angle between the hour hand and the direction of the number 12 on the dial is south. It should be remembered that before noon it is necessary to divide the angle on the dial that the hour hand must pass before 12 o'clock, and after noon - the angle that it has passed after 12 o'clock.
This method of orientation gives relatively correct results in northern and partly middle latitudes, especially in winter, less accurately in spring and autumn, but in summer the error in orientation can reach 25°. In southern latitudes, where the sun is high in summer, the accuracy of orientation is even less, and using this method is not recommended there.
The flora and fauna have certain features that can be used to determine the sides of the horizon. However, orientation by plants and animals is less reliable than the simplest astronomical techniques, so they can be used only in extreme cases, for example, in cloudy weather, when neither the Sun nor the stars are visible.
Many orienteering techniques have become widely known, although they are based on erroneous ideas.
For example, you often hear and read that trees on the southern side have bushier crowns than those on the northern side, and this can serve as an indication of the sides of the horizon. In fact, the branches of trees in the forest develop towards the free space, and not at all towards the south. Even in free-standing trees, the crown configuration depends mainly on the direction of the prevailing winds and other reasons. True, there are cases when the above sign is justified. In some areas of the Southern Urals we observed birch trees, the crowns of which were especially lush on the southern side. But, of course, one should not draw general conclusions from such observations.
Another common misconception is related to the imaginary possibility of orienting the growth of wood on the stumps of cut trees by the annual rings. These characteristics cannot be used, since the formation of growth rings depends entirely on the characteristics of plant growth.
It is believed that these rings are wider in the south than in the north, but in fact, numerous observations do not reveal this pattern. It turns out that the width of the rings depends entirely on a number of factors (for example, on the direction of the winds) and is uneven not only horizontally, but also vertically. Changes in the location of growth rings can be seen if you cut a tree at different heights from the ground.
Now let's turn to more reliable methods of plant orientation. Mosses and lichens on tree bark are concentrated mainly on the north side. By comparing several trees, you can use this feature to fairly accurately determine the north-south line. The tendency of mosses and lichens to develop in the shade makes it possible to use for orientation not only trees, but also old wooden buildings, large stones, rocks, etc. On all these objects, mosses and lichens grow mainly on the north side.
Another good guide can be the bark of trees, which is usually rougher and darker on the north side than on the south. This is especially noticeable on birch. But this sign can be used. Observing the color of the bark of not one tree, but several.
After rain, the trunks of pine trees usually turn black from the north. This is due to the fact that a thin secondary crust is developed on the pine bark, which forms earlier, on the shady side of the trunk and extends higher on it than on the southern side. The crust swells and darkens during rain.
If there is no rain, but the weather is hot, then pine and spruce trees can serve as a guide in this case. You just need to take a close look at which side of the trunk produces more resin. This side will always be south.
You should also pay attention to the grass, which in spring is thicker on the northern edges of the clearings than on the southern ones. If you take isolated stumps, trees, large stones, then, on the contrary, the grass grows thicker from the south of them, and from the north it stays fresh longer in the hot season.
Studying the habits of animals often provides interesting material for orientation, although this requires an even more careful approach than when orienting by plants. Here is some information about the behavioral characteristics of animals.
Ants almost always make their homes south of the nearest trees, stumps and bushes. The southern side of the anthill is flatter than the northern.
Steppe bees build their homes from very durable material. Their nests are placed on stones or on walls, always facing south, and look like lumps of dirt thrown off by cart wheels or horse hooves.
Three-toed gulls, or kittiwakes, nest on the rocks in numerous flocks, and their nests are always located on the western and northwestern shores of the islands.
DETERMINATION OF HORIZON SIDES BY RELIEF, SOIL, WIND AND SNOW
The soil moisture near large stones, individual buildings, and stumps serves as a kind of guideline - in summer the soil is more moist to the north of these objects than to the south.
The sides of the horizon can be found by the prevailing winds in a given area, if their direction is known in advance.
In deserts, the direction of the prevailing winds can be judged by their effect on easily eroded rocks: sandstones, limestones, loess, etc. Under the influence of wind, numerous parallel grooves are often formed in such rocks, separated by sharp ridges. On the surface of the plateau of the Libyan Desert, such grooves, polished with sand, reach a depth of 1 meter and are extended in the direction of the prevailing wind from north to south.
One of the signs by which you can determine the direction of the prevailing winds in a given area is the state of vegetation on the slopes of the mountains. On windward slopes, which freeze more strongly in winter, plants are usually inclined, thereby indicating the direction of the prevailing winds. The predominance of winds in one direction or another is also indicated by the flag-shaped crowns of trees.
In sandy deserts, the wind creates unique relief forms - dunes and dunes. The dunes are hill-shaped accumulations of sand in the shape of a crescent. Their convex part always faces the wind. On the leeward side, the slopes of the dunes are much steeper than on the windward side, and the edges are elongated in the shape of horns in the direction of the wind.
Dunes are low sandy ridges, usually without steep slopes and
elongated perpendicular to the direction of the wind. The windward slopes of dunes and dunes are compacted. Sand ripples in the form of parallel ridges often form on them. The leeward slopes are crumbling and loose.
Snow near rocks, large stones, and stumps thaws faster on the south side. In ravines, hollows, pits, it thaws faster on the north side, because the southern edges of the depressions do not receive direct rays of the sun falling from the south.
On the southern slopes of mountains and hills, the formation of thawed patches occurs the faster, the steeper the slopes.
At the northern edge of the forest, the soil is freed from snow sometimes 10-15 days later than at the southern edge.
In March - April, holes are formed in the snow around the trunks of isolated trees and stumps, extending in a southerly direction. In the spring, on the slopes facing the sun, when the snow melts, protrusions elongated to the south are formed - “spikes”, separated by recesses, the open part of which faces south.
The above describes how to navigate using various traces of the influence of wind on rocks, soil and plants. Determining the sides of the horizon directly from the wind is possible only in areas where its direction is constant for a long time.
The Kronstadt footpole is a footpole for measuring the height of the Baltic Sea level, installed on the abutment of the Blue Bridge across the Obvodny (Wired) Canal in Kronstadt. From the zero of the Kronstadt footpole, measurements of depths and heights, as well as the orbits of spacecraft, are made throughout the entire territory of the former Soviet Union.
In this pavilion, located 50 meters from the Kronstadt water gauge, a special instrument, a tide gauge, has been in operation since 1898, recording sea level fluctuations. The device sensor is installed in a special well under the pavilion.
From the zero of the Kronstadt footpole (within the framework of the Baltic height system) measurements are taken throughout the entire territory of the former Soviet Union absolute heights.
definition
- this is the ability to determine the cardinal directions, imagine the direction of roads and the location of settlements in relation to the place in which you are. You can always find the road if you know the location of the cardinal points. As you know there are four of them, these are: north (N), East (E), south (S) and west (W). Terrain orientation is one of the important conditions for ensuring life and successfully completing assigned tasks. Navigating the terrain using a map and compass is not very difficult, but in the world after death, you will most likely have to act without having either a map or a compass. Therefore, it is necessary to pay special attention to instilling solid skills in the basic techniques, rules and methods of navigating the terrain without special devices.
* Orientation by the Sun
The places of sunrise and sunset differ according to the seasons: in winter the Sun rises in the southeast and sets in the southwest; in summer the Sun rises in the northeast and sets in the northwest; In spring and autumn, the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west. At noon the Sun is always in the south direction. The shortest shadow from local objects occurs at 13 o'clock, and the direction of the shadow from vertically located local objects at this time will point to the north. If the sun is hidden by clouds, place a knife on your fingernail - even a small one, but a shadow will appear and it will become clear where the sun is.
* According to the Sun and hours
It is necessary to point the hour hand towards the Sun, and divide the angle formed between the direction of the hour hand and the number 1 (13 o'clock) of the dial by an imaginary line in half. The line dividing this angle will indicate the direction: in front - south, behind - north. At the same time, we must remember that before 13 o’clock you need to divide the left corner, and in the second half of the day - the right corner.
* According to the North Star
The North Star is always in the north. To find the North Star, you must first find the constellation Ursa Major, which resembles a bucket made up of seven fairly bright stars, then mentally draw a line through the two extreme right stars of the Ursa Major, on which to plot five times the distance between these extreme stars, and then at the end of this line we will find the North Star, which, in turn, is located in the tail of another constellation called Ursa Minor. Facing the North Star, we will receive a direction to the north.
* By the Moon
For approximate orientation, you need to know that in the summer in the first quarter the Moon is in the south at 20 o'clock, in the west at 2 o'clock in the morning, in the east at 2 o'clock in the last quarter, and in the south at 8 o'clock in the morning. When there is a full moon at night, the sides of the horizon are determined in the same way as by the Sun and the clock, and the Moon is taken for the Sun. It must be remembered that the full Moon opposes the Sun, i.e. is against him.
* By melting snow
It is known that the southern side of objects heats up more than the northern side, and accordingly, the melting of snow on this side occurs faster. This is clearly visible in early spring and during thaws in winter on the slopes of ravines, holes near trees, and snow stuck to stones.
* By shadow
At noon, the direction of the shadow (it will be the shortest) points north. Without waiting for the shortest shadow, you can navigate in the following way. Stick a stick about 1 meter long into the ground. Mark the end of the shadow. Wait 10-15 minutes and repeat the procedure. Draw a line from the first shadow position to the second and extend one step beyond the second mark. Place the toe of your left foot opposite the first mark, and the toe of your right foot at the end of the line you drew. You are now facing north.
*On local subjects
Other signs:
*By buildings
Buildings that are quite strictly oriented along the horizon include churches, mosques, and synagogues. Altars and chapels of Christian and Lutheran churches face east, bell towers face west. The lowered edge of the lower crossbar of the cross on the dome of the Orthodox Church faces the south, the raised edge faces the north. The altars of Catholic churches are located on the western side. The doors of synagogues and Muslim mosques face approximately north, and their opposite sides are directed: the mosques face Mecca in Arabia, lying on the Voronezh meridian, and the synagogues face Jerusalem in Palestine, lying on the Dnepropetrovsk meridian. Temples, pagodas, and Buddhist monasteries face south. The exit from the yurts is usually made to the south. In rural houses, more windows in living areas are cut on the south side, and the paint on the walls of buildings on the south side fades more and has a faded color. In large tracts of cultivated forest, the sides of the horizon can be determined by the clearings, which, as a rule, are cut strictly along the north-south and east-west lines, as well as by the inscriptions of block numbers on poles installed at the intersections of the clearings. On each such pillar, in its upper part and on each of the four faces, numbers are affixed - the numbering of the opposite forest blocks; the edge between the two faces with the smallest numbers shows the direction to the north.
* Determining local time without clock
If the watch breaks or is lost, the local time can be determined with relative accuracy using a compass by measuring the azimuth to the Sun. Having determined the azimuth, its value must be divided by 15 (the amount of rotation of the Sun in 1 hour), the resulting number will indicate the local time at the moment of reference. For example, the azimuth to the Sun is 180°, which means the time will be 12 hours.
* Orienteering in the forest
In the literature there are recommendations for determining the sides of the horizon based on the tree crown. But the indication that the crown of trees on the south side is more luxurious, and the annual rings of wood growth on the stump of a cut tree from the south are wider than from the north, is not always confirmed. The fact is that in a deep forest the trees cover with their shadow the neighboring trees located to the north of them. Therefore, longer and denser branches in the middle of the forest can be directed not only to the south, but also to the north, east, west, i.e., where there is more free space. In this regard, the annual increase in the next layer of wood is formed on the side from which the tree develops better. So, not necessarily from the south side. And if we also take into account that the development of the tree crown, as well as the width of wood growth, is constantly influenced by the direction of the winds and moisture, then the conclusion is clear. But it may not be true for all areas of the country. An exception may be the North, where there is much less heat and light from the sun than moisture, and where trees develop better towards the south. In the middle latitudes of a temperate climate, only the trees standing in the open can determine the north-south direction. The sides of the horizon in the forest can be determined by the bark of the trees. It must be remembered that the southern side of the trees, receiving more heat and light than the northern side, has drier and lighter bark. This is especially noticeable in coniferous forests. In addition, on the more illuminated side of the trees there are characteristic nodules and clumps of resin that retain a light amber color for a long time. It should be borne in mind that pine trunks are covered with secondary crust. On the northern side, this crust forms much less frequently than on the southern side. And after the rain the pine trunk turns black from the north. This is explained by the fact that the secondary crust, which forms on the shady side of the trunk and runs higher along it than along the southern side, swells and dries out slowly during rain. This gives the impression of the black color of the northern side of the pine trunk. The sides of the horizon can also be determined by deciduous trees. Thus, the trunks of aspens, and especially poplars, from the north are covered with moss and lichens. And even if the lichen has grown all over the tree, there is more of it on the north side, where it is more moist and dense. This is especially noticeable along the lower part of the trunk. And the bark of a white birch on the south side is always whiter compared to the north side. Cracks and irregularities, growths cover the birch on the north side. And given that birch is very sensitive to winds, the inclination of its trunk will also help to navigate the forest. Large stones and boulders can be used to determine the sides of the horizon. Their northern side is covered with lichens and moss, which do not like heat and light. And the soil near such a stone will help if there are no lichens and moss: the soil on the north side of such a stone is wetter than on the south. Its inhabitants will also help you navigate the forest. Thus, the squirrel makes its home only in hollows located on the opposite side of the prevailing winds. And anthills are located on the south side of a tree or stump. Moreover, its southern side is sloping, while its northern side is steeper. In spring, snow melts faster on the slopes of ravines, hollows, and recesses facing south. In the spring, the grass is higher and thicker on the southern side of individual stones, buildings, and forest edges, and in summer, during prolonged heat, it remains greener on the northern side.
It should be remembered that recognized erroneous ways to navigate by:
- width of annual rings;
- density of branches on trees;
- moss growths on tree trunks;
- anthills and gopher burrows.
To navigate correctly, do not use one or two methods. Collect all available methods. Check yourself constantly. A direction confirmed in six or seven ways and refuted no more than two times can, in principle, be considered quite accurate.
Yregional scientific and practical conference for schoolchildren
Yashkinsky district "Discoveries of young researchers"
Section: Geography
ORIENTATION
BY COMPASS AND LOCAL SIGNS
MBOU "Leninskaya secondary school"
Yashkinsky Municipal
district" 6th grade student
Ovechkin Victor
Head: Vostrikova
Tamara Mukharbekovna
Yashkinsky district 2017
Content
Methods of orientation…………………………………………………………..... 5
From the history of the compass……………………………………………………….….. 5
Orientation using a compass…………………………………….. 6
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………... 2
Orientation……………………………………………………………….. 4
Orientation by local signs, their correspondence with the compass needle when determining the sides of the horizon………………………...... 7
3.1. Landmarks of the flora…………………………………………….7
3.2 Landmarks of the animal world………………………………………………………....... 8
3.3 Orientation based on local characteristics…………………………………….... 9
Do-it-yourself compass……………………………………………………….....10
Conclusion …………………………………………………………………...... . eleven
List of sources and literature used………………………..….12
Application ……………………………………………………………………. 13
Introduction
In periodicals you can often read reports about the death of ships and sailors, about fishermen carried away on the fragments of ice floes into the open sea, about forced landings of planes in the taiga and ocean, about tourists in distress in the mountains, about schoolchildren lost in the forest.
Since the appearance of man on Earth, his life has always been fraught with danger. The struggle for existence forced people to cling to life by hook or by crook, to adapt to any adversity.
The talented and courageous sons of Russia - Ermak Timofeevich and Ivan Moskvitin, Vasily Poyarkov and Erofey Khabarov, Semyon Dezhnev, Vladimir Arsenyev, Nikolai Przhevalsky and hundreds of thousands of other explorers, in immeasurably difficult conditions, crossed ridges, deserts, taiga, experiencing hunger and deprivation. Nature with all its natural disasters, unexpected manifestations of strength and power, climatic phenomena, “whims” and other natural “whims” has been and remains threatening at all times.
In the diaries of travelers, in fiction and scientific literature, in periodicals, in the stories of hunters and pathfinders, there is always valuable material regarding orientation.
We began our research by conducting a survey among students at our school (Appendix 1) to find out whether they know about different ways to determine the sides of the horizon and whether they can apply their knowledge in practice. The survey showed thatIn a school geography course, children are taught to find the sides of the horizon using a compass. But they do not teach methods of orienteering based on natural objects and local features (Appendix 2).
I was interested in the question of whether it is possible to navigate by natural and local signs, and how accurate these landmarks are. Is it possible to create an orienteering device with your own hands?
The relevance of the research work lies in the fact that any trip or outing into nature is full of difficulties and risks, therefore every person must be able to navigate in space, i.e. determine your location among other geographical objects in different ways.
First, we studied theoretical sources (here, first of all, the World Wide Web helped us).People,finding yourself in a difficult situation,may feel the need to determine their position in time and spacequality
Purpose of the work: get acquainted with various methods of orientation and determine whether the readings of the compass needle correspond to natural landmarks.
To achieve this goal, the following tasks have been identified:
get acquainted with various sources of information that contribute to the accumulation of knowledge about terrain orientation;
explore different ways to navigate;
get acquainted with the device and rules of working with a compass;
orientation based on local characteristics;
investigate whether the readings of the compass needle correspond to natural and local landmarks;
systematize and summarize the information received;
determine the importance of the ability to navigate for a modern person.
Object of study: terrain orientation.
Subject of research: to establish the correspondence of the indicators of the magnetic needle of the compass and local signs for determining the sides of the horizon.
In our work, we assumed that the compass needle coincides with the signs of natural and local objects.
During the research process, we used the following methods: study, comparison, generalization, analysis, questioning.
This research work consists of an introduction, main part, conclusion and a list of references and sources used.
Orientation
Once upon a time, our primitive ancestors had the ability to accurately navigate the terrain. They knew how to read animal tracks and find food. For us modern people, these abilities are lost.
For every traveler, the ability to navigate the terrain is important. Not only theoretical knowledge is required, but also practical skills.
The word "orientation" comes from the Latin word "oriens", which means "east". Since ancient times, the east has been considered a revered side: the Sun, the source of life on Earth, appeared from the east.
Man lives on Earth. Is it any wonder that great attention has long been paid to the study of the Earth, the development of its subsoil, surface and waters. Many centuries ago, the Earth sciences were born: geodesy, topography, cartography and many others. The ability to navigate the terrain is also a science, and a rather complex one. Everyone would benefit from special knowledge and useful navigation skills in nature at any time of the day. With this knowledge, we can safely explore a world unknown to us. It turns out that there are enough guide assistants around us. You just need to know how to use them.
The essence of orientation consists of 4 main points:
determination of the sides of the horizon (main and intermediate) (Appendix 3);
determine your location relative to surrounding local objects;
finding the desired direction of movement;
maintain the chosen direction along the way.
Methods of orientation
Methods of orientation are ways of using various methods of orienteering techniques.
Find your bearingspossible with or without a topographic map. Having a topographic map makes orientation easier. But often, when going into the forest to pick mushrooms and berries, not everyone takes a topographic map with them. In the absence of a map, navigate:
using a compass;
by the clock and shadow;
according to the heavenly bodies;
on natural objects;
according to local characteristics.
In our work, we studied in more detail the following methods of orientation - using a compass and determining the sides of the horizon based on natural objects and local features.
From the history of the compass
A compass is a device that indicates the direction of the magnetic meridian. Serves to determine the sides of the horizon and measure magnetic azimuths on the ground.
The magnetic compass was invented in China. In Chinese sources from 4,000 years ago, there is a mention of a white clay pot, which caravanners “care for more than all their expensive cargo.” In it, “on a wooden float lies a brown stone that loves iron. He, turning, always points the direction of the south to travelers, and this, when the Sun is closed and the stars are not visible, saves them from many troubles, leading them to wells and directing them along the right path.”
Already at the beginning of our era, Chinese scientists began to create artificial magnets by magnetizing an iron needle. Only a thousand years later did Europeans begin to use a magnetized compass needle. Our traditional compass orientation was introduced in the 12th century. Arab sailors.
At the beginning of the 14th century. The compass now has a scale. It is believed that the Italian master Flavio Gioia attached a magnetic needle to a paper circle (card) and marked degree divisions along the edge of this circle, and drew rays to the center of it, corresponding to 32 directions - points, for more convenient observation of the instrument readings when determining the direction of the wind. The master also applied a drawing on the card, which was called the “wind rose” and became the emblem of everything connected with long journeys.
The most advanced scientists of their time made their contribution to the study and improvement of the magnetic compass. The theory of the compass and methods of its use were studied by V. Gilbert and G. Coulombe, A. Humboldt and K. Gauss, A. Euler and M. Lomonosov, H. Oersted and A. Krylov and many others.
Orientation using a compass
The cardinal directions were invented by mankind to make it easier to navigate in space. In ancient times, when there were no navigational devices, the position of the sun helped people find out their location. The compass appeared much later; the need for its creation was explained by the approaching era of geographical discoveries.Side of the worldin geography - one of the four main directions (north, south, west, east). The directions north and south are determined by the Earth's poles, and west and east by the rotation of the planet around its axis.
The compass needle always points in the north-south direction. And here it is important to understand how the end of the arrow, pointing north, is indicated. On old school compasses, the red end faces south and the blue end faces north. But on all more or less “adult” devices, only the “northern” part of the needle is usually highlighted. And in different ways: color, luminous dot, arrow shape. And this is correct, because the countdown is always carried out from the direction to the north.
Using a compass, you can determine the direction to the horizon at any time of the day and in any weather. While doing research work, we became familiar with the rules for handling a compass (Appendix 4).
Orientation by local signs, their correspondence with the compass needle when determining the sides of the horizon
Orientation on the terrain can be carried out using a map or compass. But most often a person finds himself in conditions where there is neither a map nor a compass, when knowledge of nature and the ability to anticipate weather changes are crucial.
In the process of carrying out research work, we studied various ways to determine the sides of the horizon based on local natural features. And to achieve the goal of our research, we checked the reliability of some of them (Appendix 5).
Landmarks of the flora
We selected several isolated trees and tried to determine the direction to the north based on the length of the branches. The longer branches should point south, which means the opposite side is north. Our assumptions were confirmed only once; three trees had denser and longer branches pointing to the western and southwestern direction.
The next method is the growth of moss.Thus, the trunks of aspens, and especially poplars, from the north are covered with moss and lichens. And even if the lichen has grown all over the tree, there is more of it on the north side, where it is more moist and dense. This is especially noticeable along the lower part of the trunk. The readings of the compass needle confirmed that the moss grows on the north side.
The thickness of the annual rings depends on the growing conditions of the trees,and the annual increase in the next layer of wood is formed on the side from which the tree develops better.Our research suggests that this method of orientation is wrong.
We also checked the reliability of determining the sides of the horizon from the bark of trees. And it was established thatthe bark of the trees on the north side is rougher and darker on the north side and the compass needle also points to the north.And the bark of a white birch on the south side is always whiter compared to the north side. Cracks and irregularities, growths cover the birch on the north side.
The resin on the trunks of coniferous trees (spruce, cedar) is actually greater on the south side.
However, it is pointless to look for all these signs in dense forests and windfalls. The greatest interest and value for determining the sides of the horizon are clearings, edges, clearings with trees, plants and objects standing separately on them, on which the influence of solar heat is much more pronounced. Information obtained on the basis of such signs, rechecked several times in different ways, can give a fairly clear idea of the location of the sides of the horizon.
Landmarks of the animal world
Orientation based on the behavioral characteristics of animals is described in detail by A.E. Menchukov in his book “In the World of Landmarks”. While carrying out the research, we got acquainted and tested some methods (Appendix 6):
We checked the correspondence of the compass needle readings with the features of the anthill. And it was established thatanthills are located on the southern side of the trees and the southern side of the anthill is always flatter than the northern.
Swallows make their nests under the eaves of houses on the north side. This method is not true.
Migratory birds fly north in the spring and south in the fall. But we must also take into account the fact that migratory birds, in addition to seasonal migrations, also have feeding migrations. Therefore, the direction of their flight is not always the correct reference point.
From the story of local beekeepers Shevelev A.A., Kozlov P.M. we learned that hives in apiaries are oriented with their entrances to the east.
Studying the habits of animals often provides interesting material for orientation, although this requires an even more careful approach than when orienting by plants.
Orientation based on local characteristics
We also checked the determination of the sides of the horizon based on old buildings and established (Appendix 7) that in fact, in houses of old buildings, more windows were cut on the south side (Appendix 8).
The paint on the walls of buildings on the south side fades more and has a faded color -compliance was confirmed.
Buildings that are quite strictly oriented along the horizon include churches. The chapels of Christian churches face east, the bell towers face west. The lowered edge of the lower crossbar of the cross on the dome of the Orthodox Church faces the south, the raised edge faces the north.
Reliability of the method based on the position of the crosson the dome of the church we checked on the Orthodox Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in the village of Yashkino and in the village of Severnaya on the dome of the Church named after St. Nicholas the Wonderworker(Appendix 9). In this regard, it was established thatOthe lowered edge of the lower crossbar of the cross faces the south, the raised edge faces the north.The bell tower faces west.
Having checked the reliability of these methods for determining the sides of the horizon, we formulated the following conclusions:
The most accurate are the following natural landmarks: mosses and lichens, features of tree bark, resin on trunks, features of the growth of mushrooms and grass.
If we use landmarks of the animal world, then, according to our observations, the most accurate are the location of the anthill and the features of its shape.
More accurate landmarks are old buildings, crosses on Orthodox churches and the location of bell towers.
Orientation using local signs, especially in the forest, is widely known, but there are often misconceptions.
DIY compass
A homemade compass can be made both at home and in an extreme situation. To do this, you need a magnet, a needle or a pin, which can be magnetized by friction with hair or wool. For magnetization, magnets can be used in electronic devices - speakers, headphones, as well as in leather cases for cell phones. To make a compass, you will also need a container (non-metallic) with unsalted water and a piece of bark, foam rubber, or any light material that holds the needle on the water and does not prevent it from turning, measuring about 3x3 mm. Pierce it with a pre-magnetized needle and lower it to the surface of the water. The magnetized end of a homemade needle-compass will always point north. To magnetize, you just need to hold the desired end against the magnet for about half a minute. Please note that at the same time, the other end of the needle, in the direction of the south, will have to be demagnetized. To do this, hold it over the flame of a gas burner for about twenty seconds.
Attention!
The operation of any compass that uses the principle of magnetism is greatly influenced by metal objects, which should be kept away while using a homemade compass for orientation (for example, a watch, an ax, a metal mug).
Conclusion
To successfully and accurately navigate anywhere on earth, you need a map or terrain plan, a compass or portable GPS navigators and, of course, the ability to use all of this. In the absence of these means, one can carry out orientation using local signs or using improvised means, although in this case one must remember that the indications will be very conditional.
In life, being able to navigate the terrain is necessary in order to reach your goal. Knowing how to navigate is never superfluous; a person’s health and life may depend on it.Practical significance of the workdetermined by the possibility of using the collected materials in geography lessonsand the basics of life safety, as well as in electives and extracurricular activities. Based on the results of the study, we created a practical guide for school students “Orientation using local and natural signs.”
We believe that the goal of the research work has been achieved and the following conclusions have been drawn:
A compass is a reliable assistant in navigating the terrain;
Orientation based on the characteristics of the plant world is not always reliable and often differs from the compass needle.
Orientation based on the characteristics of the animal world does not always correspond to reality.
Orientation by buildings most closely corresponds to the readings of the compass needle.
You can use a homemade compass to determine the sides of the horizon. The main thing is to be able to make it correctly.
To navigate correctly, you cannot use one or two methods. Collect all available methods.
List of sources and literature used
Berestov V. How to find a path. K., Veselka, 1989
Kuprin A.M. Interesting about orientation. A manual for students. M., “Enlightenment”, 1980, p. 96
V.I. Koryakina, A.A. KhrebtovaFrom the astrolabe to navigation systems.St. Petersburg, Publishing House "Shipbuilding", 1994 -240 pp.
Menchukov A. E. In the world of landmarks. M., "Nedra", 1974, p. 320.
Morris N. Great schoolchild encyclopedia. M., Makhaon.2003
According to the site:
http://zabavnoe.com/component/content/article/35-eto-interestno/
Application 1
QUESTIONS IN THE QUESTIONNAIRE
Dear survey participants, we ask you to answer the questions. You can choose one of the proposed answer options and add your own in those questions where the answer is missing. We hope for your sincerity in answering your questions.
1. Do you consider it important to be able to navigate in space in unfamiliar terrain?
A) yes B) no C) I don’t know
2. What methods of orienteering do you know?
3. Have you ever used these methods in real life?
A) yes B) no
4. Can you determine the sides of the horizon using a compass?
A) yes B) no
5. Can you determine the sides of the horizon by plants?
A) yes B) no
6. Can you determine the sides of the horizon using knowledge about animal life?
A) yes B) no
7. Can you determine the sides of the horizon based on signs of inanimate nature (relief, soil, snow)?
A) yes B) no
8. Do you know how to determine the sides of the horizon based on local signs?
A) yes B) no
9. Which method do you think is the most accurate?
A) using a compass B) natural and local landmarks
Application 2
Questionnaire analysis
50 students from our school were interviewed
1 question
48 students (96%) answered yes
2 students (4%) answered - I don’t know
Question 2
42 students (84%) answered – compass
8 students (16%) answered – natural signs
Appendix 3
Sides of the horizon
Intermediate Main
Appendix 4
Rules for handling a compass
To make sure the compass is working properly, you need to check the sensitivity of its needle. To do this, the compass is placed motionless in a horizontal position, a metal object is brought to it, and then removed. If after each shift the arrow remains at the same reading, the compass is in good working order and suitable for use.
To determine the sides of the horizon using a compassYou need to release the needle brake and set the compass horizontally. Then turn it so that the northern end of the magnetic needle coincides with the zero division of the scale. With this position of the compass, the signatures on the scale N, S, E, 3 will respectively face north, south, east, and west.
You need to remember that you can’t use a compass everywhere. Near power lines and electrified railways, in areas of magnetic anomalies, during a thunderstorm, compass readings are distorted, and you have to navigate the terrain in other ways.
Appendix 5
Orientation to the area based on the characteristics of the plant world
According to the width of annual ringsannual rings on fresh saw cuts are thicker on the south side
this method of orientation is wrong.
By berries
In an open forest clearing, the berries acquire color earlier on the south side
compliance confirmed
Mushrooms
Mushrooms are often located on the north side.
compliance confirmed
According to the characteristics of grass growth
In the spring, the grass is higher and thicker on the southern side of individual stones, buildings, and forest edges, and in summer, during prolonged heat, it remains greener on the northern side.
compliance confirmed
Appendix 6
Orientation based on the characteristics of the animal world
By birdsMigratory birds fly north in the spring and south in the fall.
is not always the right guideline
By birds
Swallows make their nests under the eaves of houses on the north side
Not always true.
Through rodent burrows
Rodents enter their homes from the south
According to the location of the hives in the apiary
Bees are heat-loving insects, so hives are usually oriented with their entrances to the east
Woodpecker hollow
On the tree, the woodpecker's hollow will be on the south side
Appendix 7
Determining the sides of the horizon by buildings
Appendix 8
The oldest house in Leninsky village
Appendix 9
North Village
Church named after St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
Orientation based on local characteristics
Completed by: Kopanev A.V.
Head of the military-industrial complex "Dolg" MBOU Kilmez secondary school
Orientation
To navigate correctly , do not use one or two methods. Collect all available methods.
You can navigate : by map, compass, sun, moon, clock, stars, natural signs and phenomena and various clues.
Orientation - this is the ability to determine the cardinal directions.
You can always find the way if you know location of the cardinal directions .
Cardinal directions four : north (N),
east (E), south (S) and west (W).
Determination of cardinal directions.
- According to the Sun.
- According to the Sun and the clock.
- By the Moon.
- According to the North Star.
- By melting snow.
- By the shadow.
- On local subjects.
- By buildings.
Orientation by the Sun.
The places of sunrise and sunset vary according to the seasons: in winter the sun rises in the southeast and sets in the southwest; in summer the sun rises in the northeast and sets in the northwest; in the spring And in autumn the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
Orientation by shadow.
At noon the sun is always in the direction south .
Shortest Shadow It happens at 13 o'clock , and the direction of the shadow from vertically located objects will indicate on North .
If the sun is hidden by clouds , place the knife on your fingernail - even a small one, but a shadow will appear and it will become clear where the sun is.
Orientation by shadow.
You can navigate without waiting for the shortest shadow
Set up a pole and mark the end of the shadow. After 10-15 minutes, mark the second position of the tip of the shadow. Draw a line from the first shadow position to the second and extend one step beyond the second mark.
Place the toe of your left foot opposite the first mark, and the toe of your right foot at the end of the line you drew. You are now facing north.
Orientation by the sun and the clock.
We need to send clockwise on the Sun, and the angle formed between the clockwise direction and number 1 (13 o'clock) dial, divide in half with an imaginary line. The line dividing this angle will indicate the direction: in front - south, behind - north. At the same time, we must remember that before 13 o’clock you need to divide the left corner, and in the second half of the day - the right corner.
Orientation by Moon.
For approximate orientation, you need to know that in the summer, first of all, the Moon is in the south at 19 o’clock, in the east at 1 o’clock in the morning, and in the south at 7 o’clock in the morning.
When there is a full moon at night, the sides of the horizon are determined in the same way as by the sun and the clock, and the Moon is taken for the sun.
Orientation by the North Star.
The North Star is always in the north. To find the North Star, you must first find the constellation Ursa Major, which resembles a bucket made up of seven fairly bright stars, then mentally draw a line through the two extreme right stars of the Ursa Major, on which to plot five times the distance between these extreme stars, and then at the end of this line we will find the North Star, which, in turn, is located in the tail of another constellation called Ursa Minor. Facing the North Star, we will receive a direction to the north.
Orientation by melting snow.
The southern side of objects heats up more, so the snow melts faster on this side. This can be seen during thaws on the slopes of ravines, holes near trees, and snow stuck to stones.
Snow melts faster on southern slopes; As a result, notches are formed in the snow - “spikes” directed to the south.
The bark of most trees is coarser on the north side, thinner, more elastic (birch is lighter) on the south.
On a free-standing tree, the thickest branches tend to grow on the south side, as this receives more sunlight.
Orientation on local subjects.
The thickness of the growth rings of a cut tree on the north side is less than on the south.
The south side of the stump collapses faster.
Orientation on local subjects.
On the northern side, trees, stones, wooden, tile and slate roofs are covered with lichens and mosses earlier and more abundantly. The moss on the north side is wetter.
In summer, the soil near large stones, buildings, trees and bushes is drier on the south side, which can be determined by touch.
Orientation on local subjects.
On coniferous trees, resin accumulates more abundantly on the south side.
Mushrooms prefer to grow on the north side of a tree, stump, or bush.
Orientation on local subjects.
Anthills are located on the south side of trees, stumps and bushes.
The southern slope of the anthills is gentle, and the northern slope is steep.
Orientation on local subjects.
In spring, the grass cover is more developed on the northern outskirts of the meadows, warmed by the sun's rays, and in the hot summer - on the southern, shaded ones.
Berries and fruits acquire the color of maturity earlier (turn red, turn yellow) on the south side;
Orientation on local subjects.
Sunflower flowers always turn towards the sun and never face north.
Migratory birds fly north in the spring and south in the fall.
Near isolated trees, the snow on the north side is loose, and on the south it becomes crusty because the sun shines on it.
Buildings that are quite strictly oriented along the horizon include churches, mosques, and synagogues.
Altars and chapels of Christian and Lutheran churches face east, bell towers face west.
The lowered edge of the lower crossbar of the cross on the dome of the Orthodox Church faces the south, the raised edge faces the north.
The doors of synagogues and Muslim mosques face approximately north, and their opposite sides face south.
Orientation by buildings.
The exit from the yurts is usually made to the south.
In rural houses, more windows in living areas are cut on the south side.
The paint on the walls of buildings on the south side fades more and has a faded color.
Orientation to buildings.
Clearings in large forests are usually oriented in the north-south and west-east directions.
The numbering of forest blocks goes from west to east, the numbering of opposite forest blocks goes from north to east. The edge between the two edges with the smallest numbers shows the direction to the north. ·
Determining local time without a clock.
If the watch breaks or is lost, the local time can be determined with relative accuracy using a compass by measuring the azimuth to the Sun. Having determined the azimuth, its value must be divided by 15 (the amount of rotation of the Sun in 1 hour), the resulting number will indicate the local time at the moment of reference. For example, the azimuth to the Sun is 180°, which means the time will be 12 hours.
