Nature's compass

In ancient times, the compass was the most important navigation tool when people were sailing. It was the emergence of the compass that enabled people to sail to farther places, thus ushering in the Age of Discovery.

With the progress of society and the improvement of people's living standards, outdoor activities such as mountaineering and exploration have become a way for many people to relax. A compass can help people find the right direction in the complex environment of nature.

But if you don't have a compass,

I'm lost in the wild again, what should I do?

What are nature's compasses?

Don’t worry, I will answer your question right away.

There are many natural "compasses" in the wild, waiting for you to discover. For example, green leafy plants are phototropic and grow through photosynthesis. In the northern hemisphere, the branches and leaves on the south side facing the sun absorb more sunlight, so they are lush and leafy, while the branches and leaves on the north side lack sunlight, so they are sparse.

The south side of a fruit tree has dense branches and leaves, and more fruits; the north side has fewer branches and leaves, fewer fruits, and rough bark. Some plants prefer a cool, humid environment, such as moss, so the side with moss is the north.

The south side of a fruit tree has dense branches and leaves, and more fruits; the north side has fewer branches and leaves, fewer fruits, and rough bark. Some plants prefer a cool, humid environment, such as moss, so the side with moss is the north.

In addition to plants, animals can also point you in the right direction. In late autumn, the severe cold in the north is no longer suitable for migratory birds to survive, so they fly to the warm south to overwinter. Common birds include wild geese, swans, and various cranes.

Usually we see these migratory birds flying in a neat "人" or "一" formation. There are also many small insects that live in groups and like dry environments. In order to get some sun, they often open their nests to the south.

Since my country is in the northern hemisphere, the sun rises in the east, is in the south at noon, and sets in the west in the afternoon. The sun can also be used to point us in the direction. At night, you can also observe the North Star, which is a brighter star above the north celestial pole of the earth. At night, as long as you find the North Star, you can determine the direction.

How to find the North Star?

In fact, it is easy to find the familiar Big Dipper (Ursa Major). The Big Dipper is like a water ladle. If you extend the two stars on the front edge of the ladle upward from the bottom of the ladle about five times, you will encounter a brighter star (the tail star of Ursa Minor), which is the North Star.

In the southern hemisphere (including the area south of the Tropic of Cancer), the Southern Cross can be used to identify the direction due south.

Of course, there are still many mysteries in nature, let’s explore them together.