School of survival. Orientation on the ground

You can navigate: by map, compass, sun, clock, stars, natural signs and phenomena, and various tips. For example: if you look out the window in the morning and see people with umbrellas, then it’s raining outside, and if it’s snowing, then most likely it’s winter and you need to dress warmer (just kidding).

Orientation is the ability to determine the cardinal directions, imagine the direction of roads and the location of settlements in relation to the place where you are. You can always find the way, knowing the location of the cardinal points. There are only four of them: north (N), east (E), south (S) and west (W).

Orientation on the ground is one of the important conditions for ensuring life and the successful completion of tasks. Orientation on the ground using a map and compass is not very difficult. But sometimes you have to act without a map, a compass. Therefore, when preparing for a hike, it is necessary to pay special attention to instilling solid skills in the basic techniques, rules and methods of orienting on the ground without a map and compass. Each member of the group must be able to navigate well and quickly in different terrain and in any weather conditions.

Sun Orientation.

The places of sunrise and sunset are different for the seasons: in winter, the Sun rises in the southeast, and sets in the southwest; in summer the sun rises in the northeast and sets in the northwest; in spring and autumn the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. At noon, the Sun is always in the south direction. The shortest shadow from local objects occurs at 13 o'clock, and the direction of the shadow from vertically located local objects at this time will point to the north. If the sun is hidden by clouds, put a knife on your fingernail - even a small one, but a shadow will appear and it will become clear where the sun is.

Sun and clock.

It is necessary to direct the hour hand to the Sun, and the angle formed between the direction of the hour hand and the number 1 (13 hours) of the dial should be divided in half by an imaginary line. The line dividing this corner will indicate the direction: in front - south, behind - north. At the same time, it must be remembered that until 13 o'clock you need to divide the left corner, and in the afternoon - the right corner.

By the North Star.

The North Star is always in the north. To find the North Star, you must first find the constellation Ursa Major, resembling a bucket made up of seven rather bright stars, then mentally draw a line through the two extreme right stars of the Ursa Major, on which to plot five times the distance between these extreme stars, and then at the end of this lines we find the North Star, which, in turn, is located in the tail of another constellation called Ursa Minor. By facing the North Star, we get the direction to the north.

For approximate orientation, you need to know that in the summer in the first quarter the Moon at 20 o'clock is in the south, at 2 o'clock in the morning - in the west, in the last quarter at 2 o'clock in the morning - in the east, at 8 o'clock in the morning - in the south. At a full moon at night, the sides of the horizon are determined in the same way as by the Sun and the clock, and the Moon is taken as the Sun. It must be remembered that the full Moon opposes the Sun, i.e. is against him.

By melting snow.

It is known that the southern side of objects heats up more than the northern one, and accordingly, the snow melts from this side faster. This is clearly visible in early spring and during thaws in winter on the slopes of ravines, holes near trees, snow stuck to stones.

At noon, the direction of the shadow (it will be the shortest) points to the north. Without waiting for the shortest shadow, you can navigate in the following way. Stick a stick about 1 meter long into the ground. Mark the end of the shadow. Wait 10-15 minutes and repeat the procedure. Draw a line from the first position of the shadow to the second and extend a step beyond the second mark. Place the toe of your left foot opposite the first mark and your right foot at the end of the line you have drawn. You are now facing north.

For local items.

The bark of most trees is rougher on the north side, thinner, more elastic (in birch - lighter) - on the south;

In pine, the secondary (brown, cracked) bark on the north side rises higher along the trunk;

On the north side, trees, stones, wooden, tiled and slate roofs are covered with lichens and fungi earlier and more abundantly;

On coniferous trees, resin accumulates more abundantly on the south side;

Anthills are located on the south side of trees, stumps and bushes; in addition, the southern slope of anthills is gentle, and the northern one is steep;

In spring, the grass cover is more developed on the northern outskirts of the glades, warmed by the sun's rays; in the hot period of summer - in the southern, shaded;

Berries and fruits acquire the color of maturity earlier (blush, turn yellow) on the south side;

In summer, the soil near large stones, buildings, trees and bushes is drier on the south side, which can be determined by touch;

Snow melts faster on the southern slopes; as a result of thawing on the snow, notches are formed - "spikes" directed to the south;

In the mountains, oak often grows on the southern slopes. Other signs:

Clearings in large forests, as a rule, are oriented in the direction north - south and west - east; the numbering of forest blocks in the USSR goes from west to east and further south;

On a stand-alone tree, the densest branches tend to grow on the south side, since more sunlight gets there;

sunflower flowers always turn to follow the sun and never face north;

migratory birds fly north in spring and south in autumn;

near isolated trees, the snow is loose on the north side, and on the south side

It is covered with a crust because the sun shines on it.

By buildings.

Churches, mosques, and synagogues are buildings that are rather strictly oriented to the sides of the horizon. The altars and chapels of Christian and Lutheran churches face east, the bell towers face west. The lowered edge of the lower crossbar on the dome of the Orthodox Church faces south, the raised edge faces north. The altars of Catholic churches are located on the western side. The doors of synagogues and Muslim mosques are facing approximately north, and their opposite sides are directed: mosques - to Mecca in Arabia, lying on the meridian of Voronezh, and synagogues - to Jerusalem in Palestine, lying on the meridian of Dnepropetrovsk. Temples, pagodas, Buddhist monasteries face south.

The exit from the yurts is usually done to the south. In houses in rural areas, more windows in living quarters are cut through on the south side, and the paint on the walls of buildings on the south side fades more and has a withered color.

In large tracts of cultivated forest, it is possible to determine the sides of the horizon by clearings, which, as a rule, are cut strictly along the north-south and east-west lines, as well as by the inscriptions of block numbers on poles installed at the intersections of clearings. On each such pillar in its upper part and on each of the four faces, numbers are affixed - the numbering of the opposite quarters of the forest; the edge between the two faces with the smallest digits shows the north direction.

Determination of local time without a clock.

If the clock is broken or lost, the local time can be known with relative accuracy using a compass by measuring the azimuth to the Sun. Having determined the azimuth, its value must be divided by 15 (the value of the rotation of the Sun in 1 hour), the resulting number will indicate the local time at the time of reference. For example, the azimuth to the Sun is 180°, so the time will be 12 hours.

Orientation in the forest.

There are recommendations in the literature for determining the sides of the horizon from the canopy of trees. But the indication that the crown of trees on the south side is more luxurious, and the growth rings of wood on the stump of a cut tree from the south are wider than from the north, is not always confirmed. The fact is that in a dense forest, trees cover neighboring trees located to the north of them with their shadow. Therefore, longer and thicker branches in the middle of the forest can be directed not only to the south, but also to the north, east, west, i.e., where there is more free space. In this regard, the annual growth of the next layer of wood is formed on the side from which the tree develops better. So, not necessarily on the south side. And if we also take into account the fact that the direction of winds and moisture constantly affect the development of the crown of trees, as well as the width of the growth of wood, then the conclusion is clear. But it may not be true for all regions of the country.

An exception may be the North, where there is much less heat and light from the sun than moisture, and where trees develop better towards the south. In the middle latitudes of a temperate climate, only by trees standing in an open place can one determine the north-south direction. The sides of the horizon in the forest can be determined by the bark of trees. It must be remembered that the southern side of the trees, receiving more heat and light than the northern one, has a drier and lighter bark. This is especially noticeable in coniferous forests. In addition, on the more illuminated side of the trees there are characteristic streaks and clots of resin, which retain a light amber color for a long time. It should be borne in mind that pine trunks are covered with a secondary crust. On the north side, this crust is formed much less frequently than on the south. And after the rain, the pine trunk turns black from the north. This is explained by the fact that the secondary crust, which forms on the shady side of the trunk and goes higher along it than along the southern one, swells and dries slowly during rain. This creates the impression of the black color of the northern side of the pine trunk. The sides of the horizon can also be determined by deciduous trees. So, the trunks of aspens, and especially poplars, are covered with moss and lichens from the north. And even if the lichen has grown all over the tree, then there is more of it on the north side, where it is more humid and dense. This is especially noticeable on the lower part of the trunk. And the bark of white birch on the south side is always whiter compared to the north side. Cracks and irregularities, outgrowths cover the birch from the north side. And given that the birch is very sensitive to winds, the slope of its trunk will also help you navigate in the forest. To determine the sides of the horizon, you can use large stones and boulders. Their northern side is covered with lichens and moss, which do not like heat and light. And the soil near such a stone will help if there are no lichens and moss: the soil on the north side of such a stone is wetter than on the south. Will help to navigate in the forest and its inhabitants. So, a squirrel arranges its dwelling only in hollows located on the opposite side of the prevailing winds. And anthills are located on the south side of a tree or stump. Moreover, its southern side is sloping, the northern one is steeper. In spring, snow melts faster on the slopes of ravines, hollows, and depressions facing south. Grass in spring is higher and thicker on the south side of individual stones, buildings, forest edges, and in summer, with prolonged heat, it remains greener on the north side.

It should be remembered that the methods of orientation by:

- width of annual rings;

- density of branches on trees;

- outgrowths of moss on tree trunks;

- anthills and gopher minks.

To navigate correctly, do not use one or two methods. Collect all available methods. Check yourself constantly. The direction, confirmed by six or seven ways and refuted no more than two times, can be considered, in principle, quite accurate.

Each of us can find ourselves in an extreme situation. Not only the ability to read a map, but also the ability to understand the meaning of natural signs will help to correctly navigate in unfamiliar terrain.

There are several basic ways to navigate the terrain:

1. On the map.
2. By compass.
3. on astronomical objects.
4. By plants and other local features.

Map. Compass. Landmarks. Orientation with map and compass

Orientation on the map

1. Choose your cards carefully. Make sure their scale fits your needs. Also, make sure you understand the meaning of the numbers and conventions printed on them.
2. The scale of a standard marching map is 1:50000. In other words. Any distance measured on a map is 50,000 times less than reality. There are some details that cannot be depicted with an exact match to the scale of the map. These include roads, trails, streams, and rivers that are rendered using a standardized approach (lines). Study the symbols and firmly remember what certain symbols mean (swamps, forest, buildings).
3. The terrain lines will accurately indicate your location. To do this, go to the road, river bank or other similar object, find it on the map and turn it until the direction of the line (road) matches. Then check the location of objects on the left and right and compare with the map. Heights are depicted as closed lines. The place on the map where the lines thicken corresponds to a steep slope in the terrain. The greater the distance between the height lines, the more gentle the slope.
4. It is easy to determine your location on the map if there is a clear landmark nearby (building, lake, etc.). Then the standing point coincides with the conventional sign of the map. If there is none, then there are other ways:

• Nearby local features or terrain.
• Measuring in steps the distance to the nearest landmark. And comparison of the found distance with the scale of the map in the right direction.

Compass orientation

1. The sides of the horizon on the compass are defined as follows. We release the brake of the magnetic needle and set the compass horizontally so that the northern end is opposite the letter C. In this position, the letters Yu, Z, B approximately indicate the corresponding directions - south, west, east. in any of them, a landmark is selected for further movement.
2. If the terrain is very difficult without clear guidelines (desert, forest), then it is necessary to determine the northern direction. The compass will also be relevant here, finding the north with its help, you need to correctly direct the map. We turn it to the north with the upper frame so that the longitudinal axis of the compass needle coincides with the vertical grid line of the orientation map.
3. You can find out the direction more accurately by taking into account the declination of the magnetic needle of the compass. Rotate the map so that the north end of the arrow deviates from the 0° compass stroke by the heading correction, which is indicated in the corner at the bottom left of the map.
4. Remember that the compass needle does not point to the true pole, but to the magnetic one - the difference depends on where in the world you are. If the map is not oriented to the magnetic pole, then it can be determined by the North Star. While in the northern hemisphere, point the arrow at a star and note the discrepancy between the readings of the arrow and the north indicated on the map. If you need to go, focusing on the magnetic pole, then you will have to make adjustments for the amount of discrepancy.
5. It must be remembered that the compass is not working near power lines, steel objects or military equipment. All this causes a deviation in the readings of the arrow. Before embarking on a journey, you should check the serviceability of the main orientation tool. To do this, bringing any steel object to the magnetic needle, they unbalance it and observe whether it will turn back or not. If the arrow does not return to its place, or vibrates for a long time, the compass is not working. When moving, it is stopped by a brake so that it does not demagnetize.
6. The compass is easy to make yourself. If a piece of iron wire, such as a needle, is rubbed in one direction on a silk cloth for some time, then it becomes magnetized and, being suspended, will point to the north. Instead of silk, it is best to use a magnet: touching it, strictly guide the needle or wire from one end to the other in exactly one direction.

Then hang the needle on the thread, inserting it into the loop and balance. There should be no loops or twists on the thread. A floating needle can be used just like a hanging needle, place it on a piece of paper, bark or plant leaf and lower it to the surface of the water.

To magnetize metal, you can use a source of electricity with a voltage of 2 volts or more, such as a battery, or a piece of insulated wire. Wind the wire around the needle. If it is without insulation, then wrap the needle with paper or cardboard, attach the ends of the wire to the battery terminals for 5 minutes. A razor blade can also be used as a compass needle. Magnetize it by gently rubbing it against the palm of your hand, then hang it gently.

Orientation by astronomical objects

First of all, you should find out in which direction you need to move. Heavenly bodies are indispensable helpers here.

Sun orientation

• In the northern hemisphere at noon the sun will be exactly south, in the southern hemisphere it will be exactly north. The hemisphere is determined by the direction of the shadow movement: in the northern hemisphere, it moves clockwise, in the southern - vice versa.

• Cast Shadow Method I. On level ground, stick a stick 1 meter long vertically into the ground. Mark on the ground the extreme point of the shadow (a). wait 15 minutes and mark the place where the extreme point of the shadow will now be (b). Connect both points with a line to determine the east-west direction: the first point will point to the west direction. North-south corresponds to the perpendicular to the line A-B.

• Drop Shadow Method II. In the morning, mark the extreme point of the shadow on the ground. Using any stick as the center, draw an arc whose radius will correspond to the distance from the base of the stick to the extreme point of the shadow. Exactly at noon, the length of the shadow will decrease. In the afternoon, when the shadow gets longer, mark exactly where it touches the arc. By connecting the two points with a line, you will get the east-west direction, while the morning mark will be in the west.

• Determining direction with a clock. A traditional two-hand mechanical watch can show direction, provided that it accurately shows local time (excluding seasonal time and conventional time zones). The closer you are to the equator, the less accurate this method is. If you are in the northern hemisphere, position the clock horizontally. Point the hour hand at the sun. The bisector of the angle formed by the hour hand and the line connecting the center of the dial with the number 12 gives the north-south direction. If you are in the southern hemisphere, point the number 12 at the sun. A line drawn through the middle of the arc between the number 12 and the hour hand will give the south-north direction.

Moon Orientation

1. The shape of the moon changes according to its position relative to the earth. When the moon is on the same side of the earth as the sun, the light from the latter is not reflected: this is a young month. Then, as she arrives, she reflects the light with her gradually increasing visible right side. The moon in full phase is on the opposite side of the earth from the sun, and then begins to decrease. Following this, if the moon rises before sunset, then its illuminated side faces west. If it rises after midnight, then its illuminated side faces east. Thus, at night, you can roughly determine the direction of east-west.
2. You need to know that in the summer the moon that arrives, with the illuminated right side at 19.00, is located in the south, at 1.00 - in the west. The full moon is at 19.00 - in the east, 01.00 - in the south, 07.00 - in the west. The waning moon, with the illuminated left side at 01.00 is in the east, at 07.00 - in the south.
3. With a full moon, the sides of the horizon are determined, as well as by the sun with the help of a clock. If the month is incomplete, then:

• We divide the disk of the moon into six parts by eye and determine. How many of them are in the illuminated part of the heavenly body, and we notice the time by the clock.
• By this time, add (with a waning moon) or subtract (with a waxing moon) as many parts as are in the visible part of the moon. The result obtained will indicate the hour when the sun will be located in the place where the moon is located.
• Point the clock face to the month with the appropriate time after the calculation. The bisector of the angle between one hour (winter time) or two (summer time) and the direction of the moon will show south.

How to navigate at night by the stars and the moon

Star orientation

The position of the stars relative to each other remains unchanged. Every night they rise above the horizon 4 minutes earlier than the previous night. In the northern hemisphere, the constellations are visible all night. They revolve around a single star - Polaris. This is the most important landmark of locations almost above the North Pole and points to the north.

Starry sky of the northern hemisphere

Ursa Major (a), Cassiopeia (b) and Orion (c) revolve around the Polar Star. In this case, the first two are easily recognizable constellations. that never disappear.

From the family of stars. Forming the Big Dipper (a), the two lower ones point to the Polar. Cassiopeia is W-shaped, located on the opposite side of the North Star. On clear nights, Cassiopeia is clearly visible against the background of the Milky Way. At the same time, its central star points to the Big Dipper. Through the North Star, you can draw a line connecting these two constellations.

Orion(c) rises over the equator and is observed in both hemispheres. It rises exactly in the east and sets exactly in the west. This constellation is much further than the North Star than the previous two.

Starry sky of the southern hemisphere

There is no star similar to the polar one near the south pole, but the Southern Cross, a constellation of five stars, points south. It can be distinguished from the other two cruciform constellations by its smaller size and two pointer stars. Looking at the Milky Way, find a dark area (Coal Sack) - next to it you will see the Southern Cross. To determine the south direction, project along the Cross an imaginary line four and a half times longer than the latter and lower it perpendicular to the horizon. Drive two sticks into the ground, during the day this will help determine the direction.

Orientation by plants and other local features

• Plants of lettuce, sylphitum with the edge of the leaves turned in the north-south direction.
• On the north side of the tree, lichens and mosses are mainly located.
• From the north, the bark on the trees is more cracked and rougher.
• Pine trunks from the north blackened from the rains.
• Fruits and berries begin to turn red from the south.
• On the south side, resin stands out more on the trees.
• On a pine trunk, cracked, brown bark rises a little higher than from the south.
• The rings on the stumps are thicker from the north.
• Separately standing trees have a crown more magnificent from the south.
• On the hills, pine and oak grow more often on the south side, and fir and spruce grow more on the north side.
• There is no forest in the forest-steppe in the south of the hills.
• In the ravines, the vegetation is more humid and luxuriant on the south side.
• The soil is drier on the south side of trees, stones.
• The snow melts faster on the south side. Because of this, spikes appear on the melted snow, looking south.
• In traces, snow melts faster from the north.
• Birds and bees nest mainly on the south side of the trees.
• Anthills are also located from the south, and their slope is gentle in the south, steep in the north.
• Through the forest paths. The edge of the quarter post with the smallest numbers points north.
• In Orthodox churches, the altars face east, the bell towers are built in the west, and the crossbar on the domes, with its lowered end, points to the south.
• In Muslim mosques, the doors are directed to the north.

If, due to dense clouds, it is not possible to navigate using astronomical methods, you can try to determine the sides of the horizon according to local features.

Sometimes a person who knows well in theory how to navigate by local signs, trying to apply his knowledge in practice, is completely discouraged - he does not succeed, despite the fact that memories of such legendary guides as, for example, Dersu are fresh in his memory. Uzala, which pointed the way to the expeditions, often based on barely noticeable signs.

It should be noted here that, firstly, those methods of orientation that are given in the specialized literature are given in an ideal or somewhat exaggerated form for clarity. In nature, these signs are sometimes more vague, fuzzy, often contradictory, complicated by a variety of factors - the nature of the relief, prevailing winds, the proximity of groundwater, weather conditions, etc. Secondly, people who live in nature and depend heavily on it do sometimes develop extraordinary powers of observation that allow them not to go astray. But quality is the result of constant, everyday, sometimes unconscious training. Such observation has been developed over many years, and therefore such people orient themselves, so to speak, in automatic mode, without making special efforts for this, paying attention to the necessary signs on the go, comparing and contrasting what they see under various circumstances, discarding the random and drawing conclusions about position and correct direction of travel. But even the best guides are better guided by the sun, moon and stars.

Therefore, those who happen to navigate by local signs, you need, first of all, be patient. In no case should one rush to a conclusion about the location of the sides of the horizon, based on one or two observations.

Among the signs that are of the greatest practical importance for taiga dwellers, it is necessary to single out those that are associated with the effect of solar heat on vegetation and, first of all, on trees.

The bark of trees on the northern side is usually coarser and darker than on the southern side, which is clearly visible on birch, larch, and aspen.

More resin is released from the south side of the trunk of coniferous trees than from the north.

After rain and in wet weather, the trunks of coniferous trees turn black on the north side, which is especially noticeable in pine. This is explained by the fact that a thin secondary crust is developed on the pine bark, which forms earlier on the shady side of the trunk and goes higher than on the southern one. During rain, this crust darkens and swells, and since the sun's rays hardly fall on it, it dries longer.

Mosses and lichens - shade-loving and moisture-loving plants - grow thicker on the north side of trees and stones. The moss on the north side is wetter.

Ants tend to build their dwellings south of a tree or stump. If the anthill is not located near a tree, then its south side is usually flatter.

Grass on the northern outskirts of glades, forest clearings, as well as on the south side of free-standing trees, stumps, large stones, is thicker in spring. In summer, the northern sides of the glades burn out. In hot and dry summers, dew on grass growing near a tree or stone stays longer on the north side, and the grass itself looks fresher. The dew persists for a longer time on the northern slopes of the ravines. Berries during the ripening period acquire color on the south side earlier than on the north.

However, it is pointless to look for all these signs in dense forests, windfall, in the middle of a forest thicket, where they are very weakly expressed or not expressed at all, “wiped out” by the prevailing microclimate. Of greatest interest and value for determining the sides of the horizon are glades, edges, clearings with trees, plants and objects standing separately on them, on which the effect of solar heat is much more pronounced. Information obtained on the basis of such signs, checked several times in various ways, can give a fairly clear idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe location of the sides of the horizon.

Even the changing nature of the vegetation can provide some help in orientation. Thus, many taiga researchers have repeatedly drawn attention to the dramatic changes in the transition from the northern to the southern slopes of hills, hills, and mountains. The slopes of the hills facing south are pine-steppe, as a rule, easily passable; facing north - taiga-shrub, densely overgrown with larch, almost devoid of grass and represent a dense taiga. The distribution of certain tree species can also sometimes serve as a good guide. For example, it is known that in the south of the coastal taiga, the velvet tree is found exclusively on the northern slopes, and on the southern slopes - oak.

The method of determining the sides of the horizon along forest clearings is quite well known. Clearings are usually cut in the directions north-south and east-west. The forest is thus divided into quarters, which are numbered, as a rule, from west to east and from north to south - the first number is placed in the northwest corner, the last in the southeast. At the intersection of the glades, quarterly pillars are installed, the upper part of which is hewn in the form of faces. The number of the block opposite to it is signed on each face. It is clear that the edge between the two smallest numbers indicates the direction to the north (Fig. 18). However, it must be taken into account that sometimes, for economic reasons, clearings are cut through without any correlation with the sides of the horizon.

determining the sides of the horizon along forest clearings

Talking about the definition of the countries of the world according to local characteristics, it is necessary to mention some of the misconceptions associated with these methods of orientation. First of all, this is a rather widespread opinion that it is possible to determine the sides of the horizon by the width of annual rings on tree cuts. The statement that the rings are wider from the south than from the north is incorrect, this sign cannot be guided by orientation in the area, and this was proved back in the 19th century. Nevertheless, this misconception is very common and, no, no, yes, it will appear in one book or another (the author, to his considerable surprise, found a similar recommendation even on the pages of one of the modern school textbooks). It all started three hundred years ago, when the English biologist John Ray noticed that the southern radius on a tree cut was greater than any other. This statement gave rise to a lot of controversy in the scientific world, which lasted more than seventy years with varying success. In 1758, Dugamel de Monceau overthrew Rey's conclusion, proving that the southern radius is not always larger than others. However, even a quarter of a century later, the correctness of Ray was warmly supported by the director of the Parisian Botanical Gardens, Antoine Jussier, who enjoyed great prestige. Academician A.F. put an end to this endless dispute. Middendorf, who devoted many years of his life to the study of Siberian plants and, in particular, observed the cuts of trees growing on the Yenisei. He discovered that there is no strict dependence of the width of annual rings on the sides of the horizon, which he wrote about in his book Journey to the North and East of Siberia: “My barrel plates, it turns out, are not at all eccentric, and if A. Schrenk (1854) found that the southern side of the tree rings on the northern trees is somewhat wider than the other sides (as two to three), then this probably applies only to the southern fringes of the forests. The nature of the growth of tree cells depends on dozens of different reasons, so the width of the annual rings can be oriented in any direction. Moreover, if you make saw cuts on the same tree, but at different heights, an amazing picture will open - the maximum width of annual rings changes in height in various directions, sometimes pointing in diametrically opposite directions.

An equally common misconception concerns the possibility of orienting by the density of the tree crown. Of course, it happens that the branches of a tree grow thicker on the south side, but one cannot make an axiom from this particular circumstance. In the forest, tree branches develop mainly towards free space; the configuration of the crown of isolated trees depends mainly on the direction of the prevailing wind.

In cases where travelers have lost their bearings, as practice has shown, it is faster, easier and more reliable to go back on their own tracks to where you can absolutely reliably determine your location. Meanwhile, often lost people tend to keep moving. This usually happens when one person is leading a group and, having lost their bearings, is in no hurry to stop in the hope that the situation is about to clear up. "Just about" stretches for tens of minutes, and sometimes for hours. The group moves in an unknown direction, only aggravating their situation. It also happens that, having lost their way, people try to get out of this unpleasant situation as quickly as possible and begin to "adjust" the area to the map. They notice only those landmarks that make the area recognizable, and consider all discrepancies to be accidental. Such self-deception, as well as spontaneous senseless movement, confuse travelers even more.

As soon as there were doubts about the correctness of the chosen direction of movement, one must immediately stop and try to restore the orientation. If this fails, you need to return in your footsteps. At the same time, it is not necessary to cut off loops and corners - an attempt to save time and effort in this way usually does not lead to anything good and is fraught with the loss of the last opportunity to determine your location.

Sometimes it is possible to orient oneself by examining the area from some elevated point - from the top of a hill, a hill, in extreme cases, from a tall tree. Comparison of the well-marked landmarks seen, their relative positions and the distance between them with the display of the area on the map sometimes makes it possible to clarify the situation. It is necessary to consider the probability of the group leaving for a “parallel situation”, that is, to a similar area (neighboring river valley, gorge, etc.). If there is such an area in a given area, then this possibility is checked first of all, since this significantly reduces the range of searches and simplifies the task of determining one's position on the ground, which in this case comes down to comparing some characteristic landmarks.

If you cannot identify the area and there is no way to go back, you need to try to trace your path from memory. Each member of the group should try to remember in which direction the route was kept (from which side the Sun was shining, the wind was blowing, etc.); how long the crossings were, what landmarks were encountered along the way (stream, lake, swamp, ravine, etc.); how often the halts were arranged and how long they were, whether the nature of the vegetation changed during the movement, etc. Having restored the course of events by collective efforts, you need to mark on the map the place of your intended location and, based on this, make a decision on further movement.

There aren't many options here. In the case when there is no doubt about the orientation, you can return to the route and continue on your way. If there is still uncertainty in the assessment of the location, it is better to try to return to the point of the last reliable coordinates. The complete uncertainty of the situation (especially if food supplies are running out or one of the travelers is unwell) dictates the only possible solution in this situation - to try to get out to people as soon as possible. The so-called "eternal" and large linear and areal landmarks can help with this: large mountain ranges, rivers, roads and railways, lakes, clearings, which cannot be bypassed. Most of the settlements are located on the rivers, the taiga rivers are almost the main transport routes, on the rivers you can often meet fishermen and hunters. Therefore, when losing orientation, it is recommended to move downstream of any watercourse (stream, river), which will lead to a larger waterway, on the banks of which people can live. The exception to this rule is the rivers of the north of Siberia, rushing to more and more deserted and uninhabited places.

A person goes on a journey for various reasons: hiking, traveling, resting, performing various tasks in the natural environment.
In order not to get lost and not go astray, he must constantly know where he is, for this he must be able to navigate the terrain. What does this mean? - Be able to determine the sides of the horizon and their location relative to local objects and relief elements, choose the desired direction of movement and maintain it on the way.
They orient themselves on the ground with the help of a compass, maps, according to the heavenly bodies and in other simple ways. I will tell you how to navigate the cardinal directions by celestial bodies, local objects and other signs.
The globe is conditionally divided by the equator into two hemispheres: northern and southern. The equator runs from west to east. In the northern hemisphere, in which we live, the direction to the north can be determined by standing with your back to the sun at local noon. Your shadow will point north, with west on the left and east on the right. In the southern hemisphere, north will be behind you, east on your left, west on your right. Local noon is determined using a vertical pole 0.5-1 m long. The pole does not have to be vertical. The slope does not affect the accuracy of this method (Figure 1)

You can use the shade from thin trees and other tall free-standing objects. Shortly before the expected noon, mark with a peg, pebble or mark the position of the end of the shadow and make marks until it begins to lengthen again. The moment when the shadow became the shortest corresponds to the local noon.
There is a slightly different way of determining the sides of the horizon. After sticking the pole, mark the end of the shadow, wait 10-15 minutes (with a pole 1 meter long) and mark again. Draw a straight line through the first and second marks, extending from the second by 30 cm. Stand so that the toes of the left foot are at the first mark, and the toes of the right foot are at the end of the drawn line. You stand facing north. This method is most accurate in the southern regions in summer and winter.
Remember! The sun always rises on the east side and sets on the west side. The shadow moves in the opposite direction. Therefore, the first mark of the shadow will always be in the west direction, and the second - in the east.

Determining the sides of the horizon with a clock
You can successfully navigate the cardinal directions with the help of a watch. To do this, place the watch horizontally in the palm of your hand and turn it until the hour hand points to the sun. Through the center of the dial, mentally draw a line in the direction of the number 1 (13 hours). Divide the angle thus obtained by the bisector in half. This line will show the direction to the south. Moreover, in the northern hemisphere, south until 12 o'clock is to the right of the sun, and after - to the left, in the southern hemisphere it is vice versa. Remember! That the clock should show the true local time (Fig. 2).
Do not despair if you have a digital watch on your hand. The exit is simple. Draw a circle on the ground, mark with a peg (any other object) the direction of the sun and see what time it is. Suppose 2:30 p.m. At the mark you made on the ground, write 14 hours (2). From this figure, every 30 ° restore the usual
clock face. Find the number 13 (1 hour), connect it to the center. Divide the angle between 14 and 13 in half. The bisector will indicate the south-north direction (Fig. 2).
Remember! The sun passes a value equal to 15 ° in 1 hour, and the clock hand - 30 °.
This method gives good results in temperate latitudes, especially in winter, less accurate results in spring and autumn. In summer, the error can reach 25°.
In cloudy weather, to determine the sides of the horizon to the center of the clock (Fig. clock on the ground), put a stick and hold it so that the shadow from it falls in the direction opposite to the hour hand. In the middle between the hour hand (the line opposite the shadow) and the number 1 (13 h) the direction to the south will pass (Fig. 3)

At night, you can navigate by the moon and the clock. Divide the disk of the moon into six equal parts by eye. Determine how many such parts are contained in the visible part of the moon. If the right part of the disk is visible, then the resulting number of parts is subtracted from the hour of observation. If the left part of the disk is visible, then the resulting number of parts is added to the hour of observation. The resulting difference or sum will indicate the time when the sun will be in the direction where the moon is observed. Having determined this time and conventionally accepting the moon as the sun, they find the direction to the south, as is done when orienting by the sun and the clock. At the same time, point to the moon not the hour hand, but the division on the clock face, which corresponds to the calculated hour. On a full moon, when the moon and sun are in the same direction, point the hour hand at the moon.

Orientation by the stars
Ancient navigators, travelers successfully maintained the direction of movement, guided by the stars
Find seven bright stars in the sky, forming a giant bucket with a handle (Fig. 4)

This is the constellation Ursa Major. With its help, it is not difficult to find the star of travelers burning above the North Pole - the Polar Star. The two stars at the end of the bucket are "pointers". The polar star is in a straight line with them at a distance equal to five segments between the pointers. The Big Dipper revolves around the Polar Star. Therefore, her position does not change. The Pole Star always points north.
You can also navigate by the constellation Cassiopeia. This constellation of five bright stars is shaped like the letter M or double y. The North Star is right in the center, almost in a straight line from the central star of this constellation, about the same distance from it as from the constellation Ursa Major. This position of the constellation Cassiopeia is of great help for orientation when Ursa Major is low and cannot be seen due to vegetation or high local objects (Fig. 6).
In the Southern Hemisphere, they are usually guided by the constellation of the Southern Cross (four bright stars arranged in the shape of a cross). Line A, drawn through the long axis of the Southern Cross, will indicate the direction to the south. For a more accurate location of the celestial South Pole, two adjacent stars must be found to the left of the Cross. Through the middle of the line (B-C) connecting them mentally, lower the perpendicular G, and then continue it until it intersects with line A. This intersection point is located above the South Pole (Fig. 7)

Do not confuse the true Southern Cross with the false one, which has five stars brighter and more distant from one another.
It is easy to determine the east-west direction from the constellation Orion. This constellation has seven stars, three of them are located in the middle on the same line close to each other. They are called Orion's Belt. top star
South
Orion's belt is located on the astronomical equator. Therefore, at any point on the globe, one can always observe the rising of this star in the east, setting in the west (Fig. 5).
Everyone from school is familiar with the Milky Way - a cluster of stars located on an oblong plane. In June, from 23 to 1 am, the Milky Way points to the south with a branching end. In January and early February - to the north.

Orientation with local objects
In addition to the methods for determining the sides of the horizon described above, there are natural indicators of the sides of the horizon in nature.
By plants. The bark of isolated trees, rocks, stones, walls of old wooden buildings are usually thicker covered with moss and lichen on the north side. If moss grows along the entire trunk of a tree, then there is more of it on the north side, especially at the root. The bark on trees on the northern side is usually coarser and darker than on the southern side (birch, pine, larch, aspen). In wet weather, a wet dark stripe forms on trees (pine). On the northern side of the trunk, it persists longer and rises higher. In birches on the south side of the trunk, the bark is usually lighter and more elastic. Pine has a secondary (brown
cracked) bark on the north side rises up the trunk.
Alpine pine usually slopes towards the south. Resinous trees (spruce, pine) in hot weather on the south side, as a rule, have much more resin than on the north side (Fig. 8)

On the northern slopes of the dunes, as a rule, moisture-loving plants (moss, blueberries, lingonberries) are located. In the south - light-loving (heather, reindeer moss).
In spring, the grass cover is more developed and dense on the northern outskirts of the glades warmed by the sun. In the hot period of summer - on the contrary - in the southern, shaded ones. In the hot season, on the north side of the tree, stone, grass stays fresh, moist longer, sometimes with dew drops. On the south side, the soil is drier, the grass is sluggish. In spring, on the southern slopes, the snow seems to “bristle”, forming southward ledges (thorns), separated by depressions.
The border of the forest on the southern slopes rises higher than on the northern ones. The western bank of the river is usually steeper, steep and high, while the eastern bank is flat and low. If you know the direction of the prevailing winds, you can draw conclusions about the sides of the horizon from the configuration of local objects: the length of the crowns, the slope of the trees, the grass (at night you can see it by bending down to the ground and observing the grass against the sky), the position of the dunes, the local direction of the waves of the dune chains.
According to the observations of polar pilots, the northern side of the sky is the lightest, the southern side is the darkest. In the Arctic regions, the sides of the horizon are determined by snow puffs, their narrowest and lowest part on the windward side, gradually rising; from the lee - it breaks off abruptly and points, as a rule, to the west. In the mountains, due to the difficult terrain, the abundance of steep slopes and deep gorges, as well as in dense forests, methods that take into account the growth of plants and their illumination (density of grass cover, the presence of mushrooms, ripening berries) are not suitable, erroneous orientation along the bark, along moss outgrowths on the stems. In mountainous areas, oak, pine often grow on the southern slopes, on the northern slopes - spruce, fir, beech, yew.
Anthills are almost always found on the south side of a tree, stump, or bush. The southern side of the anthill is flatter than the northern one. On the edges and open glades, berries and fruits acquire a mature color earlier (blush, blacken, turn yellow) on the south side. In the forest, near the stumps, in the swamps near the bumps on the south side, the berries of lingonberries, blueberries, cloudberries, cranberries ripen earlier than from the north. Many plant flowers, even in cloudy weather, have the ability to turn after the sun (sunflower, succession), and some turn away from the sun (ivy). Mushrooms are usually born on
on the north side of the tree, and on the south (especially in dry times) there are almost no mushrooms.
The orientation by the width of the annual rings on the stumps, the density of the branches on the trees was recognized as erroneous. The width of the annual rings of a tree depends on the physiological characteristics of plant growth, illumination, climate, and the density of the crown depends on the direction of the prevailing winds and free space for growth.
For insects and birds. Anthills are almost always found on the south side of a tree, stump, or bush. The southern side of the anthill is flatter than the northern one. Butterflies, when they rest, usually fold their wings, instinctively choosing a position so that the sun shines directly on them from above. Then the shadow from the wings turns into a narrow line. If a butterfly sits in one place for a long time and the moving sun begins to shine on its side, then it changes position, so the wings are constantly directed towards the sun with a narrow edge, i.e., with their backs. East in the morning, south at noon, west in the evening.
Steppe bees build their dwellings on the south side of stones or walls. The nests are like clods of dirt thrown off by the wheels of a car. Migratory birds fly north in spring and south in autumn. Swallows usually nest under the eaves of houses on the north side.
For local facilities. The altars of Lutheran churches always face east. Belfry - usually to the west; the raised end of the lower bar of the cross on the dome of the church points north; the altars of Catholic churches are facing west, and shrines, pagodas, Buddhist monasteries face south. The doors of Jewish synagogues, Muslim mosques are turned approximately to the north, their opposite sides are directed: mosques - to Mecca in Arabia, synagogues - to Jerusalem. The exit from the yurts is usually done to the south. In rural areas, the houses have more south facing windows and the paint fades on the walls more from the south.

Orientation by quarterly forest inventory pillars
In a wooded area, you can navigate along the quarterly forest management pillars. In the forest, clearings are cut in the north-south, west-east direction, so the quarters are numbered from west to east and from north to south.
North will face the side of the quarter pillar, on which there are smaller numbers of quarters.

Orientation with the help of improvised means
A simple steel sewing needle or a needle from a pin pre-magnetized with a magnet can help you determine the sides of the horizon (stick them to a magnet for 4-5 hours), tie them to a thread and, holding the needle in the air by the thread, check with a working compass, mark the north end of the needle with red paint. You can take such an impromptu compass with you on your journey. If necessary, it is enough to rub a magnetized needle or a sting from a broken pin between your fingers and carefully place it on the surface of calm water. The forces of water tension will hold the needle, and it will gradually orient itself to the north. If the needle sinks, stick a piece of cork, bark, Styrofoam, or a straw into it. As the case of an impromptu compass
you can use any container for water, plastic is better. The simplest compass, as I said, is a needle tied with a thread in the middle in a freely suspended state. On paper, you can make an approximate compass scale, knowing that north is 0 °.360 ° (east - 90 °, south - 180 °, west - 270 °.
You can also determine the cardinal points using a radio receiver, especially if the direction to the transmitting station coincides with one of the cardinal points or with the direction of movement of the group. If necessary, set the receiver operating in the medium or long wave range to the position of the worst sounding. The end face of the receiver will indicate the direction to the transmitting station.
When orienting by local objects, signs, improvised means, excluding astronomical ones, it is impossible to draw conclusions about the location of the cardinal points from one or two observations. Draw conclusions only after repeated confirmation of the initial result.
Constantly look for objects that confirm or refute the chosen direction of movement.

Determination of local time
In the absence of a clock, local time with relative accuracy can be found by compass by measuring the azimuth to the sun. The resulting value must be divided by 15 °. This number corresponds to one twenty-fourth of the circle that makes up the amount of rotation of the Earth in 1 hour. 1 is added to the resulting quotient. If, for example, the azimuth to the Sun was 105 °, then 105:15 = 7. By adding one, we get 8 hours local time.
You can use Table 1 to determine local time using the moon and compass.

At night, you can use the "star clock". The dial for them is the sky with the Polar Star in the center, and the arrow is an imaginary line drawn to it through the two extreme stars of the Big Dipper bucket.
The firmament is mentally divided into twelve parts, each of which corresponds to a conventional hour. 6 hours will be located below, 12 hours above. Having determined the hour indicated by the arrow, the serial number of the current month with tenths is added to it (every three days \u003d 0.1).
The resulting amount must be doubled, and then subtracted from the constant number 53.3. If the difference exceeds the number 24, then another 24 must be subtracted. The result of these simple calculations is the local time (Fig. 9). For example: on August 15, the “star clock” hand showed 6. Since the serial number of August is 8, and 15 days are 0.5, then 6 + 8.5 \u003d 14.5, 14.5X2 \u003d 29, 53.3-29 \u003d 24 ,3,
24.3 - 24 = 0.3. Therefore, the local time is 0 h 20 min.

Plants and birds can tell the time. In the summer (June-July), the night lark wakes up around one in the morning. At 2 o'clock the nightingale wakes up. By three o'clock, the quail, the golden cuckoo, and the oriole begin to try their voice. The finch and oatmeal wake up from 3 to 4 hours. Some plants open and close the corollas of flowers at a certain time: when the sky begins to brighten in the east, the yellow goatbeard (similar to dandelion) opens its petals - at 3-5-7 o'clock, wild rose
and chicory - at 4-5 o'clock, poppy - at 5 o'clock, dandelion - at 5-6 o'clock, potatoes, field thistle, flax - at 5-7 o'clock, water lily, field bindweed - at 6-8 o'clock. corollas of their flowers: garden sow thistle - 13-14 hours, potatoes - 14-15 hours, coltsfoot - at 17-18 hours, wild rose - at 19-20 hours.
I wish you successful application of this knowledge in practice.

S. V. Breslavsky,
SA Special Forces Major
Journal "Martial Arts of the Planet"

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