Most compasses used for land navigation consist of a round bezel over a rectangular base. Inside the bezel is the needle that moves to point in the direction of magnetic north. Magnetic north is a point on the planet where the earth's magnetic field points downward towards earth from the atmosphere.
The bezel has numbers on it, from 0 to 360. Each number represents degrees and is used to determine direction on the map.
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If you keep the bezel with 360 degrees on the top and you're facing directly north, the needle of your compass will point to 360 and land inside the box, a red rectangle drawn on the face of your compass that is always pointing to 360 degrees.
For example, if you are located in the exact middle of your map and want to travel east in a straight line, you would turn your bezel until 90 degrees is on the top of your compass, or to what is normally referred to as a heading of 90 degrees. Now, holding the compass steady so that it's pointing in the same direction you're facing, turn until the needle stops inside the box. When this happens, you are now facing due east with a heading of 90 degrees.
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Test Your Knowledge
These concepts are easier to understand when you have a map and compass in hand. Be sure to re-read these directions with the right tools close by so you can truly understand before hitting the trails.
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