--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2002 08:54:34 -0800
From: Brian Bach <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Why is north "up" on globes/maps? <fwd>
Sender: Brian Bach <[log in to unmask]>


Regarding why north is 'up', could we also not add:

- The majority of the world's population is in the northern hemisphere.
- The orientation of humans walking upright would indicate its own applicable logic; we stand vertically - Planet Earth should, too! In the Solar System, north pole is the head, south pole the feet. (The Jains in India believe that the universe itself is a vast configuration of the human form. I don't remember where Earth is situated in that Celestial Body - no doubt in a key position.)
- Polaris (the North Star) as a prime navigation point from antiquity onwards.

Brian

Brian P. Bach
Maps Specialist
Documents/Maps
Central Washington University Library
400 E. 8th Ave.
Ellensburg, WA 98926-7548
USA
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>>> [log in to unmask] 02/21/02 01:14PM >>>
--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2002 12:48:18 -0500
From: Roger L Payne <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Why is north "up" on globes/maps? <fwd>
Sender: Roger L Payne <[log in to unmask]>



For maps, as has been elaborated, there are numerous variables such as
application, culture, etc.  For globes, I think it is simply that North is
the English word describing the upper half of the planet as it is situated
in the solar system.

Roger L. Payne




                    Johnnie
                    Sutherland             To:     [log in to unmask]
                    <jsutherl@arche        cc:
                    s.uga.edu>             Subject:     Why is north "up" on globes/maps?
                    Sent by: Maps          <fwd>
                    and Air Photo
                    Systems Forum
                    <MAPS-L@LISTSER
                    V.UGA.EDU>


                    02/15/02 03:50
                    PM
                    Please respond
                    to Naomi.Heiser





--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2002 14:18:10 -0700
From: Naomi Heiser <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Why is north "up" on globes/maps?
Sender: Naomi Heiser <[log in to unmask]>


Hello -
A local newspaper would like a simple lay-person's answer to this
question:  "Why is north always up on globes and maps?"

We did inform them that north is not always "up", and gave them an
example.  However, we could not find a easy, concise answer in any
reference sources about the history/convention of indicating north on a
globe or map.

Could anyone point us toward a good source, preferably on-line (but
paper okay)?

Thanks in advance.

Naomi Heiser
Map Library
University of Colorado Libraries
Boulder, CO 80303
(303) 492-4966
[log in to unmask]
http://www-libraries.colorado.edu/ps/map/frontpage.htm
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