why is north "up" ?
- Thread starter kwerk
- Start date
Soldato
Because map makers had to pick one convention or the other, and that's the one they chose.
If it were the other way round, would you have created a thread titled "why is south up?"
If it were the other way round, would you have created a thread titled "why is south up?"
Soldato
YA SRSLY 
"The convention came a few centuries ago when Northern hemisphere, European navigators started using the North star and the magnetic compass. Before that, the top of the map was to the East which is where the word orientation comes from."
And this does look fairly ridculous.
And this does look fairly ridculous.
Associate
I like the 'upside-down' one as you get to fully appreciate the vast size of the Pacific!
Soldato
Its like whoever built the planet forgot to stick in an extra continent!
Soldato
I like this one: Pangea to the current map - awesome stuff:
Soldato
I like this one: Pangea to the current map - awesome stuff:
Hmm strange, in that animation England has always been a separate little island but I'm sure I remember reading somewhere that people used to be able to walk from England to France (a long time ago).
Associate
Because it's grim.
Soldato
We have poles due to the earths magnetic field. North and South are just labels for the area where the magnetic forces meet.
they could walk on water back in the day though
Man of Honour
Because the North Pole is up there, looks at map, yes it is.
Soldato
To make Australians feel inferior obviously.
Man of Honour
Rename the North to South and visa-versa, you have the same dilemma.. It's just a tag..
Remember though, everyone is north to someone else.. or South to that matter...
Remember though, everyone is north to someone else.. or South to that matter...
Soldato
Unless you're standing on the North/South pole.
Well then everyone is both north and south to you.
Soldato
It's all relative.