Summer is the holiday season, this is the time of year when most citizens go on vacation outside the city, closer to nature. When planning to go for a walk in unfamiliar areas, you should first think about your safety. An integral companion of any tourist, regardless of whether he decides to go on vacation by car or prefers walking, is a regular compass. Moreover, orienting on the terrain using a compass is not difficult when applied correctly.
So, you can purchase a simple device, once invented by the Chinese, in any tourist goods store. When buying, it is worth paying special attention to its serviceability, first of all, to the magnetization of the arrow. The arrow of a working compass when you bring a metal object to it will deviate in its direction. If you are going to determine the direction of travel on the go, you should think about a liquid compass. They more accurately show the right direction when moving, because their flask is filled with a special liquid that prevents the oscillations of the arrow.
Now let's talk about how to use the compass. The instrument arrow is always in the north-south position. If you face the north, then on the right will be east, on the left - west. Before you ask yourself how to navigate the compass, it is advisable to learn the cardinal directions. The part of the arrow pointing to the north is usually highlighted in color, shape, or a special mark.
So, select the object or landmark to which we will return. An object can be a river, road, power line, or clearing, that is, any long line. To properly navigate, you should move away from the object in the right direction and stand facing the road. In this case, the compass should be held so that its arrow coincides with the south-north line. Next, mentally you need to draw a line through the center of the device in the direction of the path of its return. There are numbers on the edge of the compass bulb counting degrees in the north direction. You need to remember the number through which an imaginary line passes. The second mandatory number to remember is located on the opposite side of the limb. It will show the direction to be followed along the entire journey. Some compasses are equipped with a special turning part with marks, with which you can fix both directions. When deepening into an unfamiliar area, you should at least occasionally look at the arrows of the device. When going back, you need to check the compass, mentally draw a line through the second digit that you remember, and the center of the device, then slowly, without moving the compass, turn around its axis until the north end of the arrow points to the letter N or C, or the number 0. When the arrow stops at zero, you should start moving in the direction in which the gaze is turned. If everything is done correctly, some time later you can go to the landmark. Unfortunately, they don’t learn how to navigate the compass at any school, but everyone can master it independently. Remember that using a compass, it should be kept as far away as possible from any electronic devices and metal objects, since they can have a negative impact on its operation.
If, before setting off on a journey, you are not sure that you know exactly how to navigate the compass, practice at home in advance, thoroughly study its work, because in case of an emergency, there will be no time for this. Together with the compass, take on the road a map that will greatly simplify the search for the right path, and the journey will not be spoiled by endless wanderings in unfamiliar areas. If you know how to navigate the compass and have a clear map of the area with you, the chances of getting lost are minimized.