North Arrow

A north arrow—also called a compass rose or orientation indicator—is a cartographic element that shows the direction of true north, magnetic north, or grid north on a map. It anchors the reader’s spatial understanding, especially on maps that are not oriented with north at the top or on maps at large scales where local grid convergence angles matter. In standard web maps that always orient north upward, a north arrow may be omitted as redundant. However, for rotated views, 3D perspective maps, oblique aerial imageryAerial ImageryAerial imagery involves photographs taken from planes or drones, offering detailed views of Earth's surface. It is a ..., and printed maps that may be displayed at any orientation, a north arrow is essential. Some designs distinguish between true north, magnetic north, and grid north using a declination diagram, which is important for navigation with a compass. North arrow styles range from simple single-line arrows to ornate compass roses. The choice should complement the map’s overall design without drawing excessive attention. Modern GISGISGeographic Information Systems (GIS) enable users to analyze and visualize spatial data to uncover patterns, relation... layout tools in ArcGISArcGISArcGIS is a leading GIS platform offering tools for spatial analysis, mapping, and data visualization. It serves a wi... Pro, QGISQGISQGIS is a user-friendly, open-source GIS platform that provides tools for geospatial data analysis, mapping, and inte..., and InDesign provide libraries of north arrow symbols that can be resized and rotated. Best practice places the north arrow where it does not overlap data, often in a corner alongside the scale barScale BarA scale bar is a graphic element on a map that visually indicates the relationship between distance on the map and ac... and legend, and sizes it modestly relative to the map frame.