How to get oriented in nature

It is possible that we have lost ourselves in the middle of the forest in an excursion and we lost ourselves. Or simply that we are curious to know where the south is. In any case, there are many ways to guide us, available to everyone. Without the need for GPS or next-generation mobiles (at most a watch), learn in what ways nature guides you.

Through the Polar Star in the Northern Hemisphere

As the earth revolves on its north - south axis, people in the Northern Hemisphere seem to think that all the stars turn out in the East and in the West (including the Sun), but the farther north they are, the more a circle that does not go over the horizon. In the case of the Polar Star, which is exactly on the line of the axis of rotation of the Earth, it turns apparently on itself, so it appears still in the sky. You have to know how to recognize it (it's very bright and it does not blink), because right below it is the North.

By observing the moss on the trees

As in the Northern Hemisphere the apparent trajectory of the Sun is inclined towards the South, there is an area of ​​shade on the north side of the trees and this indicates the North. It also occurs in the houses and on the north side of the mountains, changing the vegetation and staying the snow longer. These are indications that can help us. The mosses are mostly housed in the area that faces south since there is more shade and the humidity comes mainly from the South (Southern Hemisphere). If they are in humid climates, the whole tree is full but has a greater concentration on one side.

By stumps of cut trees

If we see cut trees, when observing the rings we will see that they are not symmetrical, the trees grow more on the south side. In addition, we will see that the distances between the rings of the cut are greater on the south side of the tree (northern hemisphere) while in the southern hemisphere it happens on the contrary: they grow mostly towards the north since the sun is more tilted towards the north and the Plants "seek" the Sun.

By determining the meridian with the use of a clock

To know the meridian (north-south line) an analog clock is arranged horizontally and the hour hand is coincided with the direction where the Sun is at that moment: the south direction (if we are in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere) ) will remain in the bisector of the angle formed by the hour hand with 12 o'clock, if you point at 12 o'clock, towards the Sun and the bisector between the time and twelve o'clock in the North (temperate southern hemisphere). It can be said here, even if Obviously, if we have a digital clock we can also orient ourselves with it. It will be enough to draw on the ground or on a paper the solar time it is and we will apply the previous method.

• Although these forms of orientation are very reliable, in case of wanting an exact location it is useful to use professional methods (from compass to digital devices) to be completely accurate.