Orientation by local characteristics: ways and examples

A person going to the forest, it is necessary to know how to determine the sides of the horizon. Orientation is a very useful skill; In the Russian forests is very easy to get lost. It is useless to rely on modern means of communication, because in many areas there is no network coverage area.

Do not be afraid

The most reliable ways of orienting - on the heavenly bodies: the Sun, the Moon or the Polar star. However, it is not always possible to use them. Dense low clouds interfere most often. In this case it is necessary to be able to orientate by local natural features.

All the methods given in the specialized training literature are shown in an exaggerated form and taken under ideal conditions. In reality, everything is much more complicated. Signs can be contradictory, in the present forest there are numerous and various factors influencing these signs: relief, weather conditions, winds, etc. Therefore, a person who knows by heart knows all the ways of orienting by local features, it is very difficult to correctly determine the sides of the world.

Fundamental rules

In order to avoid getting out of the way in an emergency, training is necessary. You can learn on your own: first, the person determines where the north, south, west and east are located, guided by various natural features, and then checks himself on the compass.

People who live in nature or spend a lot of time outside of cities have a developed sense. Sometimes they can not determine how to talk about the reasons for their decision, but it turns out to be correct. The fact is that they often have to rely only on their own observation, and this is also a training, only a subconscious. Therefore, it is worthwhile to trust the judgments of local residents.

Orientation by local characteristics is not an easy task. First of all, patience will be needed here. In no case can you rely on 1-2 randomly seen signs. They must be at least 5.

Another important point is observation. It is necessary not only to be able to find the signs, but also to compare them with the natural conditions in order to find out where the coincidence is, and where it is not.

Common sense will help to separate the grain from the chaff and draw the right conclusions about the location of the horizon.

The effect of heat and sunlight on trees

Orientation on local natural features in the forest is made in the direction of north-south. This is due to the fact that the plant world is very responsive to solar heat. Particularly noticeable is the effect of light on trees, so taiga residents often resort to these signs.

On the south side, the bark of the trees is softer and lighter than on the northern side. But not all tree species show this dependence clearly. First of all, it is worth paying attention to birch, aspen and larch. In the first, this dependence can be traced even in a dense forest.

In the coniferous forest it is easy to orient on natural features: it is worth looking closely at the secretions of resin on the trunks. On the south side, they are much more abundant.

Pines after the rain black stems, it was noticed by many, but not all paid attention that they darken mainly from the north side. This is due to the fact that the coniferous trees have a thin secondary crust. More intensively, its formation goes on the shady side: there it is thicker, denser and rises high along the trunk. When it's damp or raining outside, it picks up the water, swells and darkens. On the north side, almost no sunlight, and the bark remains dark and moist for a long time.

The effect of heat on other plants

There are various examples of orientation on local grounds. For example, in the plant world.

The bulk of mosses and lichens will grow on the northern side of the stones and trees. This is due to the fact that it is a shadow and moisture-loving plant. On the shady side moss is more damp.

You can pay attention and grass. On the southern slopes of the glades and the outskirts of glades the grass grows thicker, and in the spring it appears earlier.

Rosa stays longer on the grass growing north of the trees. Vegetation retains a fresh appearance here for a longer time.

The berries blush first from the southern side, tk. It is subject to longer exposure to sunlight. Therefore, during the ripening period, it is not difficult to establish where the north is located.

Patterns can be traced in how the fungi grow. It turns out they prefer the north side.

However, these signs are unlikely to be clearly manifested in a dense forest or more often. Orientation by local characteristics is almost impossible to conduct here. They are virtually invisible due to microclimate conditions. Search for signs you need in rare areas, near glades. Especially clearly visible are all the above signs on separately standing trees. But one can not trust individual signs. Talk about any orientation is possible only with systematically repeated signs. It is advisable to double-check all the information received.

Signs of orientation in the steppe

The most difficult to determine the direction in the field. However, even here there are assistants. Orientation on local natural features can be carried out with the help of some plants.

Field weeds of weeds can help with determining the sides of the horizon. It is even called the "steppe compass". The fact is that its leaves are located vertically, while the ribs will be oriented along the north-south directions, and the planes will look to the west and east.

Sunflower is another wonderful helper. The fact is that he is very thermophilic. Therefore, he always reaches out to the sun, and during the day the flower's cap repeats his path. Before sunrise and early in the morning, the sunflower will look to the east, after 12 - to the south, and after sunset - to the west. Of course, when the seeds have already ripened, he does not twist his head, but the hat will still be directed to the southeast.

Nature of the area

Anthills are usually located on the south side of a stump or tree. So they get more sunlight and heat. A stand-alone anthill shows that its southern slope is more flat.

The nature of vegetation can vary depending on which side it grows on. The taiga has repeatedly noted that the southern slopes are more free, they can easily be walked through. Here the trees are widely spread, there are few shrubs. The slopes are covered with grass. On the northern sides, it is much more difficult to go. The forest grows here drearily, a lot of bushes, and grass, on the contrary, is not enough.

The spreading of certain plant species will also help guide the orientation of local items. However, it is necessary to know about such features in advance. For example, in the south of the coastal taiga, the southern slopes are covered with oak, and on the north the velvet tree grows.

The ravines and gullies also have their own characteristics. Usually one side is more smooth and sloping, many grass grows on it. Opposite - steep, cracked, bare, with screes, practically without vegetation. The first is the southern side, the second is the northern side.

If the slopes look about the same, the hollow is oriented north-south, and the sides are facing west and east.

Forest clearings

If a lost person wanders on a clearing, he will be very lucky. To determine the direction in this case is not difficult. Orientation by local characteristics in this case is very easy to carry out. The fact is that in the forestry there is a custom to divide the taiga into quarters. For this, cuttings are cut through. They go from west to east and from north to south. At the intersections are installed quarterly columns. The upper part of them is wrought in a characteristic way: in the form of faces. The number of the opposite blocks is indicated on them. Number 1 is installed in the north-west corner, the last one - in the southeast. In order not to look for the starting post, one should remember a simple rule: the angle between the two smallest digits will indicate the direction to the north.

However, there is an exception to this rule: in rare cases, the clearings are cut without reference to the sides of the horizon. As a rule, this is facilitated by a complex terrain or some economic considerations.

In settlements

If there are villages on the way, even abandoned, it is still very good support. Orientation on the grounds of the terrain here is much easier. First of all, religious buildings are of interest because They always have a strict orientation around the world.

Thus, in the Orthodox churches the altar is always facing east, and the bell-towers to the west. The crosses on the domes are directed in the north-south orientation. There is one more feature here. The lower edge of the lower crossbar looks down to the south, and the raised one to the north.

Buddhist monasteries are built by the facade to the south.

Dwellings also have their own patterns of location. Thus, at the yurts the exit is directed to the south.

On the northern facades and roof slopes, a lichen appears quickly. Also on the shady side, the boards are usually darker and longer stay moist after the rain.

Several rules for winter orientation

When everything is covered with snow, it is much more difficult to determine your location and find the sides of the horizon. But even here there are a number of regularities. The methods of orientation are as follows:

1. More snow accumulates from the northern side of trees and buildings.
2. On the south side, it begins to melt earlier, this process is faster.
3. In the mountains, snow first descends from the south.
4. In ravines, ravines, gullies, everything happens the other way round. First, the northern side thaws.

Misconception # 1

There are both proven signs of orientation, and some not very accurate ways to determine the sides of the horizon. One of them is that the annual rings on the southern side are wider than those from the north. However, this sign can not be guided, because It is not single-valued. Expansion of annual rings can occur from any side, and it is caused more likely by features of district, a microclimate, than influence of solar beams. The erroneousness of this statement was proved more than 100 years ago, but it is still alive and used.

Another problem that can arise if one uses such methods of orientation is that in the taiga it is practically impossible to find a large number of neatly cut down trees where the pattern would be clearly visible. And if you saw a tree in several places, you can see that the width of the annual rings can change regardless of the direction and sometimes show in opposite directions.

Misconception number 2

Attempts to determine the direction of the density of the crown, too, can not be crowned with success. The fact is that with its formation, sunlight is not the only factor, and even more so it is not determinative. Therefore, the assertion that the crown is thicker on the south side may turn out to be erroneous. In the forest, branches will always grow in the direction where there is more free space. And in the open spaces, the dominant direction of the winds will be the determining factor. If they are strong, you can see bent branches from the constant impact. Density of the crown, rather, an auxiliary feature.

The most reliable way

Orientation by local characteristics is not reliable enough. The best results are obtained by using celestial bodies to determine the sides of the horizon. Therefore, it is necessary to know the basic laws of their location.

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. At noon, it is in the south. The shortest shadow is at 13 o'clock. It will be directed to the north. If the weather is cloudy, you can try to put a knife on the nail: a barely noticeable shadow will still appear, and along with it the direction and location of the sun will become clear.

Using the clock, you can also determine the horizon's sides. In this case, you need to send the hour hand to the Sun. Between it and the figure 1 an angle is formed, which must be divided in half. The bisector will indicate the direction: the south will be ahead, and the north at the back. In the morning, the angle will be to the left of 1, and in the second - to the right.

The polar star in our hemisphere is in the north. To find it, you must first find the constellation Ursa Major. It resembles a large bucket. Through the 2 rightmost stars, you must draw a line, postpone 5 times the distance. At the end there will be Polar. If you stand facing her, it will be heading north.

The Moon also has a number of regularities of location. At full moon, it is equated to the Sun and is looking for the sides of the horizon in a similar way. However, one must take into account that it opposes the main luminary.

If you lose the landmark

If all the same travelers are lost, in no case should you continue to move. First you need to find the sides of the horizon. Orientation should be carried out immediately, and then go back in its tracks, to the place where the location was absolutely clear. If you try to go further, hoping that soon everything will fall into place, you can get lost and get even more confused. Select in this case will be extremely difficult.

As soon as it became clear that the group had lost its way, it was necessary to stop immediately and look carefully. Well, if there is a high hill nearby. In this case, you can look around and compare the visible terrain with the map, you can try to orient on local features of nature.