Ways to navigate the terrain
Orientation methods
The essence of orientation is certain skills and methods for determining one’s own position on the ground relative to certain objects that are taken as a reference point. It also means maintaining the direction of movement on the way to the selected destination. There are various ways to navigate the terrain. They include finding the cardinal directions using a compass and map, using geographic features and landmarks, using celestial bodies, as well as natural signs and clues. General orientation allows you to constantly monitor the location on the ground in cases where there is no likelihood of straying from the intended trajectory. For example, when traffic follows a highway between two populated areas, when there are well-known landmarks. You have to resort to detailed orientation when there is a threat of losing your position, when you need to correctly determine your location on the chosen route.
Why do you need orientation?
Wherever a person finds himself in the event of an emergency, in order to choose the right tactics and survival strategy, it is necessary to first determine the location. Various methods that mankind has invented are suitable for this.
Location can be a decisive factor that will determine all subsequent actions. For example, if you determine that you are in the middle of nowhere and no one will come to your aid, for some reason, you should hit the road. But where to go? Which way to go? After all, civilization may be behind the nearest hill, or there may be no one within a radius of 300 kilometers. To solve such issues, people use fairly accurate views and methods of orientation in space. After all, the inability to choose the right direction in extreme conditions can cost a person his life.
By radio signals
In order to navigate using this method, you need to take a pocket radio with you. Next, you should try to catch and record signals from powerful radio stations, which the azimuth on the compass will help you with. It is desirable that the direction of the signals also coincides with the selected side of the world. As you move, if you lose your bearings, then set the receiver in the direction of the worst sound, which will help determine the desired direction of the world, previously indicated by the compass.
By map and compass
Orientation on the terrain using a compass is the most convenient and easiest way to determine the sides of the horizon.
To determine the cardinal directions, you need to place the device in a horizontal position, remove the clamp from the arrow and wait for it to calm down. The magnetic needle in any compass design is suspended in a free state. Its dark end will point to the north.
It is important to take into account that the readings on the compass are not very accurate, since the needle is located along the magnetic meridian, and the Earth’s magnetic field can be influenced by the relief features of the planet and a particular area.
The angle between the magnetic and true (geographic) meridians forms the magnetic declination of the compass needle. This value is different in each area and requires additional adjustment using a map or using the sun.
To determine the magnitude of the deviation, there are marks on the dial of the device: the lower ones are degrees, and the upper ones are tens of thousandths of the goniometer. Degrees are determined clockwise from zero to three hundred and sixty. The protractor strokes look counterclockwise from zero to six hundred.
The zero division is located on the letter “C” or “N”, which indicates north. On the hinged cover of the compass there is a sighting device with a front sight and a sight with luminous indicators opposite each.
When working with a compass, we must not forget that electromagnetic fields and metal distort the readings. Therefore, to navigate using this navigation device, it is necessary to maintain an impressive distance from power lines, railways and large-sized mechanisms.
To set the direction, on a horizontal compass, the front sight is placed at the zero division. Then rotate the device until the north end of the rotating arrow coincides with zero. Without changing the position of the device in space, a distant landmark in a nearby area is found through the sight. This will be the pointer to the north.
In this case, the magnetic azimuth of the direction is calculated according to the readings of the division scale opposite the front sight of the sight. Thus, azimuth is an angle measured clockwise from the “north” direction to the “landmark” direction.
To navigate on a large-scale map, the compass is applied with a zero division on the line of geographic longitude. Next, from our place we determine the angle in the chosen direction where we want to go, and find a landmark in space using a compass. Orientation completed.
To move in azimuth, you need to diligently adhere to the landmark and check the compass as often as possible.
By relief
This method, of course, is for advanced “naturalists,” as it requires attentiveness to the features of the landscape. If you find yourself in an open area in summer, autumn or spring, then your faithful assistant will be the notorious moss, which chooses the northern sides of trees, old abandoned houses and other objects to grow. If winter finds you in an unfamiliar place, then a carpet of snow will become your faithful ally. It turns out that in the south the coating melts a little faster.
By the North Star
So, you are caught in an unfamiliar area at dusk or at night, which means that it is not possible to take advantage of the sun or landscape landmarks. Then all hope is in the starry sky, which will be accessible only in cloudless weather. Take a good look at the sky and find the North Star (as we know from childhood, it is the brightest among others). And here it is important to remember just one detail - the star is located strictly in the north, if you look at it face-on. If the celestial body was not immediately found by its brightness, then remember your astronomy lessons - the North Star is located in the constellation Big Dipper (Ursa).
By the Moon
The second most important celestial body after the sun can help out even on a cloudy, gloomy and completely impenetrable night. Focus on the position of the moon, which will allow you to determine the cardinal directions. But this requires some knowledge that in different phases and periods the satellite has different positions. If you do not want to remember specific information, write it down in the fields of your map, because this may be the only way to navigate the area in the evening and at night.
According to the sun
The celestial body has been helping tourists, wanderers and sailors determine the direction of the world since ancient times. The method, of course, is not always stable, since a small accumulation of clouds, twilight or night will prevent you from orienting yourself to the sun. In fact, a special table has been developed that allows you to determine your location by the position of the Star in the sky in different seasons. If you don’t have a compass at home, then it is very advisable to include a printout of the table in the map. If there is no table, you can use a mechanical clock (only in clear skies). Place them on a flat horizontal surface so that the main (short) arrow points to the current position of the sun in the sky. Next, roughly divide the angle between the minute and hour hands in half and draw an imaginary line that will show you the south side of the world.
By animals
We will talk not so much about animals, but about insects that know how to correctly orient their homes and obey the biorhythms of nature. Your first helpers in the warm summer are, of course, steppe bees, which choose the south side to build their hive. In the daytime, in bad weather conditions and in any season, try to find an anthill. As a rule, ants build their “building” also from the southern part of a stump or tree. Pay attention to the shape of the housing itself, since its flatter side is southern.
By plants
In the meantime, while you are busy searching for anthills and beehives (believe me, this can take many hours of mindless wandering), try to pay attention to the vegetation under your feet. Lichen and moss, we remind you, grow precisely on the northern part of the trees. But the grass more often pecks to the south of any nearby object. And here’s another landmark: clearings are forming in the forest from north to south. And if you come across fruits or berries, then know that in front of you, most likely, is the southern side of the world.
In the modern world, navigators and GPS solve problems with terrain orientation, and without Google Maps many feel like they have no hands. Nevertheless, it’s good that you read this article, because in the most inconvenient and hopeless period, knowledge about orientation in the wild will emerge from the subconscious very timely.
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Tourist community
The concept of terrain orientation
known to man since ancient times, when he was still a primitive man and looked for prey in the forest, and then looked for the way home, to his cave. This was vital for him.
So what is terrain orientation?
Why does having navigational skills remain an important element of a person’s life to this day? In this age of using cell phones and satellites for navigation. Why is it important to acquire first knowledge and skills in orienteering during school years, as happened to me? I wanted to tell you a little about this.
Just recently, in my early childhood, while studying at school, I had no idea that there were such words - orienteering
on the ground, and if there was, it was very foggy.
But it was at school age that I acquired my first skills in orienteering, which later led me to the tourism section. I don’t regret this at all, because... All my education and experience came in handy in life when I began to travel seriously.
As a child, I didn’t even think that every person in the world, including me and my friends, use their abilities to navigate the terrain every day, although they don’t think about it.
Everyone has these abilities and they are different: an adult and a child. Especially these abilities are different for a person trained and illiterate in orienteering.
My father, a former pilot, got me interested and helped me figure it out and understand it. He told how important it is for a person to be able to navigate the terrain, especially for pilots, travelers, and geologists. He told me that there is such a game and type of competition with a funny name - “Fox Hunting”.
The game uses an object familiar to everyone, that is, a compass device with a magnetic needle. The “Fox” is hiding in the forest, and a person needs to find it using a compass and map.
One day my father invited me to play this game. We didn’t find a live fox to play with, but a toy fox passed for the “fox,” “the fox was hiding,” and I used the coordinates and a compass to find it. It turned out to be a very simple and fun game. You can play in the forest and even on the street - in the yard of your house.
It seemed to me that while playing, at that moment I was a real traveler, treasure hunter or rescuer.
After such games, and especially after studying special books and visiting the tourism section, I realized that knowledge and experience in orienteering are very necessary for every person. They are needed for his own ordinary life, and especially for a person’s safety in difficult life situations and adventures.
an essay at school
on the topic of orientation.
If anyone is interested, I still have it, below is a link to download the essay
on orienteering. For it I got an A in geography.
From the history of orienteering
People became so interested in orienteering and the game of “fox hunting” that they came up with a new sport called orienteering. As a sport, orienteering originated in Norway. In 1962, the first European tournament took place there. The first World Orienteering Championships were held in Finland in 1966. Orienteering “penetrated” into Russia through the Baltic states. The first competitions in our country were in 1963 in the city of Uzhgorod in Ukraine.
Nowadays, orienteering is popular all over the world. Orienteering is played in 50 countries around the world. National orienteering federations unite a huge number of adult and children's orienteering clubs. There is even an International Orienteering Federation and it constantly holds World Championships.
The largest international competitions take place in the country of Sweden and attract about 20 thousand participants. This is a lot. What is the secret of such popularity of orienteering in the world?
Why is orienteering so popular and interesting?
The secret to the popularity of orienteering, as I understand it, is the following.
Firstly, its ease of accessibility for every person: it does not require special sports facilities, competitions are held in the fresh air.
Secondly, orienteering is a very beautiful and harmonious sport. It requires physical activity, movement and good brain function.
Thirdly, such competitions arouse interest not only among children, but also among adults.
Fourthly, orienteering can be done by people of any age and training.
Fifthly, you can practice orienteering not only by running, but also by skiing and cycling.
What exactly is orientation and why is it needed?
Now about the main thing, what is orientation and why is it needed specifically?
We often go hiking in the forest, but not everyone has a map of the area. The knowledge I received helps me navigate and not get lost in a field in the forest, without a map. You can also easily master it.
Terrain orientation is the determination of your or my location relative to the cardinal directions (South, North, West, East), relative to the horizon and prominent objects on the terrain (landmarks) and the exact choice of direction of movement. Ability to maintain the chosen direction of movement.
The ability to quickly and accurately navigate a foreign terrain is necessary in a foreign city, in a forest, and in conditions where visibility is difficult—in fog.
Conclusion: all this will help you not to get lost and know where you are and where to go next.
It’s easy to develop your orienteering skills in the forest, at a tourist gathering, for example, at the All-Russian youth gathering of young and active people in Seliger. It takes place annually. If you manage to get there. Take your time and money and organize a holiday on Seliger - see the link. You won't regret it. Trust me.
And now I propose to download my promised short abstract on this page. All the basic and simple navigation skills are described there by me.
By buildings
If you didn’t grab a map and, as luck would have it, moss doesn’t grow in the area you are observing, then you can focus on unknown structures. For example, the altars of Orthodox churches (even destroyed or abandoned) will face east. The bell towers of the churches are oriented to the west. Pay attention to the cross - its lower diagonal crossbar shows the north and south sides (upper and lower ends). As for synagogues and mosques, their doors are located strictly to the north. Buddhist monasteries are built so that the facades point to the south.
