Cardinal points
Also called: Cardinal directions · Topic: Maps and Map Scale · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 1 "Introduction to Maps"
Meaning
Cardinal points are the four main directions: north, south, east and west. The directions between them are called intermediate directions: north-east (NE), south-east (SE), south-west (SW) and north-west (NW). Together they make eight directions. On a map, north is the base direction (the zero line), and every map must show it with a north line or arrow. We use these directions to say where one place lies from another.
Example
On a map of India, with north at the top, Kolkata lies to the south-east of Delhi and Mumbai lies to the south-west of Delhi.
Don't confuse with
- Intermediate directions: NE, SE, SW and NW lie between the cardinal points. They are not cardinal points themselves.