Interactive Magnetic Declination Calculator: Click Any Location to See True North vs Magnetic North vs Grid North

Experience the Difference Between Three Norths Through Real-Time Map Interaction

Stop reading confusing explanations about magnetic declination and grid convergence—see them for yourself. Our interactive magnetic north calculator transforms abstract angular concepts into visual, tangible arrows you can watch diverge on an actual map. Click anywhere on Earth, and instantly see three colored arrows extending from that point: green for True North, red for Magnetic North, blue for Grid North. Watch how they spread apart. Read the exact angular differences. See which direction compasses actually point versus where maps indicate north.

This isn’t another static declination calculator where you type coordinates and get numbers. It’s a complete interactive visualization that shows you why these corrections matter by letting you see the physical angular differences overlaid on real geography. Click locations across North America and watch magnetic declination swing from 20° East to 20° West. Click along the agonic line and see where all three norths nearly align. Click near UTM zone boundaries and watch grid convergence reach maximum values.

Whether you’re planning navigation routes, learning about Earth’s magnetic field, or teaching orienteering, this hands-on tool makes the invisible visible through direct map interaction.

See Angular Differences, Don’t Just Calculate Them

Traditional declination calculators give you numbers: “Magnetic declination: 14.5° E” and “Grid convergence: 1.2° W”. But what does that look like? How far apart are those arrows? Which way do they point?

Our interactive tool shows you:

Three colored arrows extend from your clicked point, each pointing its own direction:

• Green arrow (True North): Points toward the geographic North Pole along the meridian
• Red arrow (Magnetic North): Points where a magnetic compass needle would aim
• Blue arrow (Grid North): Points along UTM grid northing lines

The angular spread between arrows visually demonstrates the declination and convergence values. A narrow spread means small corrections. A wide spread means significant angular differences that cannot be ignored for accurate navigation.

Arrow colors match the legend, making it instantly clear which arrow represents which north. No confusion about whether you’re looking at true, magnetic, or grid bearings.

This visual representation builds intuitive understanding impossible to achieve through text descriptions. You see that magnetic north can point 15 degrees away from true north. You watch grid lines diverge from meridians. You understand why these corrections matter because you witness the physical angular differences.

Click, See, Learn: The Exploration Workflow

The interactive interface encourages exploration that reveals geographic patterns:

Click across the United States and watch magnetic declination change from strongly easterly in Washington (compass points east of true north) to strongly westerly in Maine (compass points west of true north). See the agonic line where declination crosses zero through the Midwest.

Click east and west from a UTM zone’s center and watch grid convergence grow from zero at the central meridian to 2-3 degrees at zone boundaries. Understand viscerally why grid convergence depends on longitude.

Click north and south along the same longitude and see how grid convergence increases with latitude. Watch it grow larger in Alaska than in Texas, demonstrating the latitude-dependence of the convergence formula.

Click random locations worldwide to discover extreme declinations in northern Canada (30°+), near-zero values in parts of Europe, and interesting patterns across continents. Each click is a geography lesson about Earth’s magnetic field.

This experimental approach builds knowledge through discovery rather than memorization. You remember “the Pacific Northwest has strong easterly declination” because you clicked Seattle and saw red arrows pointing far east, not because you read it in a paragraph.

Real-Time Data Updates with Every Click

The control panel updates instantly when you click the map:

Location Information displays your exact coordinates:

• Latitude and longitude to six decimal places (meter-level precision)
• UTM zone designation (zone number and letter)

Declination Values show the critical angles:

• Magnetic Declination: Angle between True North and Magnetic North, with E/W direction
• Grid Convergence: Angle between True North and Grid North, with E/W direction
• Total Correction: Combined correction for converting magnetic compass bearings to grid map bearings

Visual Indicators use colored badges matching the arrow colors:

• Red “M” badge for Magnetic declination
• Blue “G” badge for Grid convergence
• Purple “Δ” badge for Total correction

Explanatory Text appears below each value, reminding you what it represents without overwhelming the interface.

This multi-format presentation—visual arrows on the map, numerical values in the panel, color-coded indicators, explanatory text—reinforces learning through redundancy. Different learners grasp the concept through different channels, and the interface speaks to all of them simultaneously.

The Interactive Tool Experience: A Visual Walkthrough

Step 1: Navigate to Any Location on Earth

The tool opens showing a map of the United States with three basemap options:

Street Map displays roads, cities, borders, and labels. Use this when you want geographic context with place names and infrastructure. Perfect for understanding declination in relation to specific cities or regions.

Satellite Imagery shows actual aerial photographs of Earth’s surface. Use this for terrain visualization or when working in remote areas where street maps provide little detail. Ideal for wilderness navigation planning.

Topographic Map displays elevation contours, terrain shading, trails, and landforms. Use this for outdoor activities where topography matters—hiking, mountaineering, search and rescue.

Switch views instantly using the layer control in the upper right corner. Your clicked point and north arrows persist as you change basemaps, letting you view the same declination data against different geographic contexts.

Navigate freely using standard map controls:

• Zoom: Mouse wheel or +/- buttons to zoom in and out
• Pan: Click and drag to move across the map
• Double-click: Zoom in quickly on a specific area

Find your exact location—whether it’s a specific trailhead, survey benchmark, property corner, or general region. The tool works at any zoom level, from continental views down to individual building detail.

Step 2: Click Anywhere on the Map

A single click triggers complete calculations. You don’t need to enter coordinates or use forms—just click the location you’re interested in.

A purple marker appears at your clicked point with a subtle drop shadow, clearly marking your selected location.

Three colored arrows extend from the marker, radiating outward toward their respective norths. These arrows extend to the map edges, making their directional differences obvious even at high zoom levels.

The “click anywhere” hint disappears after your first click, clearing visual clutter and focusing attention on results.

Each new click removes the previous marker and arrows, replacing them with fresh calculations for the new location. You can click rapidly across the map, watching values change with each click to build geographic intuition.

Step 3: Examine the Visual Arrow Display

The arrows provide rich visual information:

Arrow Colors and Meanings:

• Green (True North): Geographic north toward the pole—always points straight toward the top of meridian lines
• Red (Magnetic North): Where compasses point—deviates east or west of green arrow by the magnetic declination angle
• Blue (Grid North): Direction of map grid lines—deviates east or west of green arrow by grid convergence angle

Arrow Thickness Indicates Importance:

• True North (green) is thickest—it’s the fundamental reference
• Magnetic North (red) is medium—what compasses show
• Grid North (blue) is thinner—the map grid reference

Arrow Angular Spread Shows Correction Magnitude:

• Narrow spread: Small corrections (0-5 degrees)—easy to manage
• Medium spread: Moderate corrections (5-15 degrees)—important for accurate navigation
• Wide spread: Large corrections (15+ degrees)—critical for navigation safety

Visual Patterns Reveal Geographic Relationships:

• Red arrow east of green = positive magnetic declination (Magnetic North is east of True North)
• Red arrow west of green = negative magnetic declination (Magnetic North is west of True North)
• Blue arrow near green at zone centers = minimal grid convergence
• Blue arrow far from green at zone edges = significant grid convergence

This visual encoding makes patterns obvious that tables of numbers obscure. You see that western states have easterly declination. You observe that grid convergence grows near zone boundaries.

Step 4: Read the Calculated Values

The control panel provides precise numerical data:

Location Information confirms where you clicked:

Latitude: 45.523064°
Longitude: -122.676483°
UTM Zone: 10T

This verification ensures you clicked the intended location and provides coordinates for documentation or sharing.

Declination Values show the critical corrections:

Magnetic Declination: 15.23° E

• Means Magnetic North is 15.23 degrees east of True North
• Compass needles point 15.23° right of the true north direction
• To convert magnetic bearings to true: subtract 15.23°

Grid Convergence: 0.87° W

• Means Grid North is 0.87 degrees west of True North
• UTM grid lines point 0.87° left of the meridian
• This location is west of the zone’s central meridian

Total Correction: -16.10°

• Combined correction to convert magnetic bearing to grid bearing
• Formula: Grid Bearing = Magnetic Bearing + Total Correction
• Negative value means subtract from compass reading

Each value includes direction indicators (E for East, W for West) eliminating sign confusion. Explanatory text below each value reminds you what it represents and how to use it.

Step 5: Export Your Data

Click “Export Data” to download a JSON file containing complete information about your clicked location:

Location coordinates with full precision for surveying or GIS integration

All declination values numerically documented for reference and sharing

Conversion formulas showing exactly how to convert between bearing types:

Grid Bearing = Magnetic Bearing - Magnetic Declination + Grid Convergence
Grid Bearing = Magnetic Bearing + Total Correction

Descriptions and notes explaining what each value means and accuracy limitations

Timestamp recording when calculations were performed

Filename including coordinates for easy identification: north-comparison-45.5231_-122.6765.json

This export provides documentation for:

• Navigation plans requiring official declination records
• Survey reports needing declination verification
• Field instructions for team members
• GIS metadata about correction factors
• Educational materials demonstrating calculations

Step 6: Compare Multiple Locations

The exploration doesn’t stop with one click:

Click “Reset View” to return the map to its starting position and zoom level, making it easy to find new areas to explore.

Click new locations to see how declination and convergence vary geographically. Each click provides fresh arrows and values.

Build geographic intuition by clicking systematic patterns:

• East to west across a country: Watch magnetic declination change sign
• Along the agonic line: Find where declination crosses zero
• Across UTM zone boundaries: See grid convergence flip direction
• North to south along a longitude: Watch convergence increase with latitude
• Random global locations: Discover extreme values and interesting patterns

Mental comparison between locations reveals patterns:

• “Portland has 15° E declination while Boston has 15° W—a 30° difference!”
• “Grid convergence is 0.2° in Kansas but 2.8° in Alaska—latitude matters!”
• “This location is on the agonic line—all three norths nearly align!”

This comparative exploration transforms abstract concepts into concrete geographic knowledge you can visualize and remember.

What You Can Experience and Learn

Navigate Navigation Planning Visually

Plan hiking routes by clicking your trailhead to see exact declination. Compare it to map margin values to check if the map is current. Export the data to include in your trip plan. Adjust your compass declination setting to match before heading out.

Design search patterns by clicking the search area center to determine corrections for all team members. Share exported data so everyone uses consistent bearing conversions. Verify that team coordinates match despite using different map datums or GPS settings.

Verify GPS compass features by clicking your location and comparing the tool’s magnetic declination to your GPS device’s reported value. Discrepancies indicate GPS database age or device errors that could affect navigation accuracy.

Explore Earth’s Magnetic Field Interactively

Trace the agonic line by clicking locations and finding where magnetic declination crosses zero. Follow this line from the Great Lakes southward, watching declination values hover near 0° East/West.

Find extreme declinations by clicking northern Canada, Siberia, or near magnetic poles. Discover locations where declination exceeds 30-40 degrees, making compass navigation nearly useless without corrections.

Watch secular variation effects by comparing current values to historical maps. Click the same location shown on old maps and see how declination has changed over decades as magnetic poles drift.

Understand global patterns by clicking across continents. See how declination forms curved patterns called isogonic lines—lines of equal declination that reveal Earth’s magnetic field structure.

Teach Orienteering and Navigation

Demonstrate the three norths to students by projecting the tool on a screen. Click locations while students watch arrows spread apart. Discuss why each north exists and when to use each one.

Show geographic variation by clicking student locations. “Where are you from? Let’s see your local declination!” makes the concept personal and relevant rather than abstract.

Visualize bearing conversions by clicking a location, noting all three arrows and values, then working through conversion formulas on a whiteboard while arrows remain visible as reference.

Create practice problems by clicking random locations, exporting data, and having students calculate bearing conversions. The visual arrows help students check their math—if they calculate a grid bearing, they can verify it makes sense relative to arrow positions.

Understand Surveying and GIS Concepts

Verify survey calculations by clicking benchmark locations to determine current declination and convergence values for comparison with survey notes. Discrepancies may indicate outdated survey data or magnetic anomalies.

Check map projection effects by clicking along UTM zone central meridians (where convergence should be zero) and at zone edges (where convergence reaches maximum). Verify that calculated values match theoretical expectations.

Understand coordinate system conversions by clicking locations while viewing different basemaps. See how the same point has different bearing references depending on whether you’re using geographic coordinates (true north), magnetic compass (magnetic north), or grid systems (grid north).

Plan fieldwork logistics by clicking project areas to determine what compass corrections field crews need. Export data for inclusion in field manuals or crew briefings.

Why This Interactive Experience Beats Static Articles

You Control the Exploration

Static articles tell you magnetic declination varies geographically—but they can’t show you your specific locations. The interactive tool lets you explore places that matter to you:

• Your hometown
• Your favorite hiking areas
• Your work project sites
• Locations you’re planning to visit
• Places you’re curious about

This personalization makes learning relevant and memorable. You’re not memorizing abstract facts about “typical” declinations—you’re discovering actual values for places you know and care about.

Visual Learning Beats Text Description

Reading “magnetic declination is the angle between True North and Magnetic North” conveys information. Seeing green and red arrows spread apart by 15 degrees conveys understanding.

The visual representation:

• Shows relationships spatially rather than requiring mental visualization
• Uses color coding to eliminate confusion about which north is which
• Demonstrates angle magnitude through actual angular spread
• Provides geographic context by overlaying on real maps
• Updates instantly to show how values change with location

Visual learners grasp these concepts in seconds when seeing the arrows, whereas text descriptions might require minutes of careful reading and mental model building.

Instant Feedback Encourages Experimentation

Traditional learning: Read an article, hopefully remember the concepts, maybe try to apply them later.

Interactive learning: Click a location, see results, form a hypothesis, test it immediately:

• “I bet declination is different on the coast” → Click there and verify
• “Does declination change gradually or abruptly?” → Click systematically and observe
• “What’s declination where I’m hiking next week?” → Click and find out instantly
• “How does this compare to my friend’s location?” → Click both and compare

This experimental mindset accelerates learning and builds intuition that passive reading never achieves.

No Prerequisites or Setup Required

This isn’t GIS software requiring:

• Download and installation
• License purchase
• Complex interface learning
• Geographic data loading
• Coordinate system configuration

It’s a web page. Open it, click, learn. Works on phones, tablets, computers. No account creation, no payment, no configuration. The tool respects your time by working immediately.

Memory Through Discovery

You remember things you discover more vividly than things you’re told.

Told: “The agonic line runs through the Midwest” Discovered: “I clicked across the US and found that line where declination went from positive to negative—it runs right through Missouri!”

The interactive tool facilitates discovery learning, creating stronger memory formation and deeper understanding than passive information consumption.

Understanding Magnetic Declination Through Interaction

What You’ll See When You Click

In the Western United States (Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah):

• Red arrow (Magnetic North) points east of green arrow (True North)
• Positive magnetic declination values (10° E to 20° E)
• Compasses point toward the northeast rather than straight north
• To get true bearings from compass, subtract the declination

In the Eastern United States (New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Florida):

• Red arrow points west of green arrow
• Negative (westerly) declination values (10° W to 20° W)
• Compasses point toward the northwest rather than straight north
• To get true bearings from compass, add the declination (or subtract negative)

Along the Agonic Line (Great Lakes, Midwest, parts of the South):

• Red and green arrows nearly align
• Declination near 0°
• Compasses point almost exactly toward True North
• Minimal correction needed for compass navigation

In Northern Canada and Alaska:

• Red arrow deviates significantly—often 15-30+ degrees
• Extreme declinations make uncorrected compass navigation dangerous
• Large corrections required for accurate bearings

Click these regions yourself and watch the patterns emerge. The visual arrows make these geographic relationships obvious in ways that text descriptions struggle to convey.

Why Magnetic Declination Varies

As you click across the map, you’re witnessing effects of Earth’s magnetic field structure:

Earth’s magnetic poles don’t match geographic poles. The north magnetic pole (where compasses point) is currently in northern Canada, hundreds of miles from the geographic North Pole (where meridians converge). This offset creates the declination patterns you see.

Magnetic field lines curve through Earth’s crust and atmosphere. Compass needles align with local field lines. Because these lines curve and don’t point directly at geographic poles, declination varies by location.

The magnetic pole moves at about 55 km/year, causing declination to change slowly over time. Old maps show different values than current ones—a phenomenon called secular variation that you can observe by comparing tool values to historical map margins.

Click near the magnetic pole location (northern Canada) and you’ll see extreme declination values where the offset between magnetic and geographic poles creates maximum angular difference.

Understanding Grid Convergence Through Interaction

What You’ll See When You Click

At UTM Zone Central Meridians:

• Blue arrow (Grid North) aligns almost perfectly with green arrow (True North)
• Grid convergence near 0°
• This is the one longitude where grid lines and meridians coincide

East of Central Meridians:

• Blue arrow points east of green arrow
• Positive (easterly) grid convergence
• Grid north is east of true north
• Convergence increases with distance from center

West of Central Meridians:

• Blue arrow points west of green arrow
• Negative (westerly) grid convergence
• Grid north is west of true north
• Convergence increases with distance from center

At Higher Latitudes:

• Larger angular spread between blue and green arrows
• Grid convergence values reach 2-3+ degrees
• The grid convergence formula includes sin(latitude), so values grow northward

Near UTM Zone Boundaries:

• Maximum grid convergence (~±3 degrees from central meridian)
• Most noticeable angular difference between Grid and True North

Click systematically east and west across a zone while watching the blue arrow—you’ll see it pivot from west to center to east, visually demonstrating how grid convergence depends on longitudinal position.

Why Grid Convergence Exists

The blue arrow behavior you observe results from map projection mathematics:

Earth is spherical, maps are flat. Representing curved surfaces on flat grids requires geometric compromises. UTM projections preserve local shapes but introduce angular distortions away from the central meridian.

Meridians converge toward poles on the globe. They’re not parallel—they get closer together as you move northward. But grid northing lines are parallel by definition—they never converge.

This geometric impossibility creates grid convergence. The blue arrow shows you the visual result of this mathematical compromise. Click along a meridian (constant longitude) moving north and south—the green arrow stays aligned with that meridian. Click along a parallel (constant latitude) moving east and west—the blue arrow pivots as grid lines and meridians diverge.

Interactive Scenarios: Click and Explore

Scenario 1: Plan a Hiking Trip in the Cascades

Click Mount Rainier, Washington to see:

• Magnetic Declination: ~15.5° E
• Grid Convergence: ~1.5° W
• Total Correction: -17.0°

What this means:

• Your compass points 15.5 degrees east of true north
• Your map’s grid lines point 1.5 degrees west of true north
• To convert compass bearings to map bearings, subtract 17 degrees

Visual observation: The red arrow points noticeably east. The spread between red and blue arrows is wide—these corrections are significant and cannot be ignored.

Action: Set your compass declination adjustment to 15.5° E before the trip, or remember to subtract 17° when converting compass readings to map grid bearings.

Scenario 2: Teaching Students About the Agonic Line

Click Kansas City, Missouri to find:

• Magnetic Declination: ~0.5° E
• Grid Convergence: ~1.0° W
• All three arrows nearly aligned

Click Chattanooga, Tennessee to find:

• Magnetic Declination: ~5.0° W (crossed from east to west)
• The agonic line runs between these cities

Teaching moment: Project the tool and click progressively from west to east across the Midwest. Watch magnetic declination change from positive to negative. Students see the agonic line as a discoverable feature, not a memorization requirement.

Scenario 3: Verify Old Map Accuracy

Find an old topographic map from 1980 showing declination of 8° E for Denver, Colorado.

Click Denver in the tool to see current value: ~8.5° E

Calculation: 44 years × ~0.01° per year = ~0.5° change. The old map is reasonably current—but verify for your exact location as secular variation rates vary.

Visual check: The red arrow position approximately matches the old map’s declination diagram, confirming the map margin data is still usable.

Scenario 4: Understand UTM Zone Effects

Click Omaha, Nebraska (near UTM Zone 15 central meridian):

• Grid Convergence: ~0.1° (nearly zero)
• Blue and green arrows aligned

Click Boston, Massachusetts (near UTM Zone 19 boundary):

• Grid Convergence: ~2.5° E (maximum for this latitude)
• Blue arrow noticeably east of green

Understanding: The visual arrow positions demonstrate why surveyors and GIS professionals must account for grid convergence—it’s not just a theoretical correction but a real angular difference you can see.

Practical Applications You Can Explore

Wilderness Navigation Verification

Before your trip: Click your trailhead location, export the data, print it with your maps.

In the field: Set your compass to the displayed declination value. When you measure bearings on your map, apply the total correction to convert to compass bearings.

Verification: If you’re getting lost despite careful navigation, check whether your compass declination setting matches the exported value. A forgotten compass adjustment or incorrect declination is a common navigation error this tool helps prevent.

Survey Project Planning

Before fieldwork: Click throughout your project area to determine declination and convergence values. Export data for each key location.

Team briefing: Show field crews the interactive tool, clicking their work areas while explaining why these corrections matter. The visual arrows make abstract concepts concrete for crew members without surveying backgrounds.

Quality control: When field data seems inconsistent, click field locations to verify crews used correct declination values. Spot-check calculations against tool outputs.

GIS Integration Planning

Coordinate system planning: Click your project extent to understand grid convergence across the study area. Determine whether single values suffice or whether convergence variation requires spatial modeling.

Bearing data integration: When importing compass-based directional measurements into GIS, click data collection locations to determine appropriate corrections for each point or use average corrections for the study area.

Documentation: Export tool data for inclusion in GIS metadata, documenting the declination and convergence values assumed in spatial analyses.

Educational Demonstrations

Classroom projection: Display the tool on a screen and click as students watch. Ask “Where should I click next?” and let students direct exploration, building engagement.

Field trip preparation: Before outdoor orienteering lessons, show students the tool with their practice area. Let them see that their location requires specific corrections, making the abstract personal.

Homework assignments: “Use the interactive tool to find declination at five locations of your choice. Compare values and explain patterns.” Students explore independently, building understanding through discovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Interactive Tool

Do I need to create an account to use the tool? No. The tool works immediately in any web browser without registration, login, or payment. Click and explore freely.

Does the tool work on mobile devices? Yes, it’s fully responsive and works on smartphones and tablets. However, the best experience is on desktop/laptop computers where you can see the full map and arrows clearly.

How accurate are the calculations? Magnetic declination uses World Magnetic Model (WMM) approximations accurate to 1-2 degrees for most locations—sufficient for navigation and educational purposes. Grid convergence uses standard UTM formulas accurate to minutes of arc. For professional surveying requiring higher precision, use official NOAA calculators.

Can I use this anywhere in the world? Yes, the tool calculates declination and convergence globally. However, polar regions beyond 84°N and 80°S lie outside UTM coverage and have limited magnetic model validity.

Why don’t the arrows point exactly where I expect? The arrows extend to map edges, so their apparent direction depends on zoom level and map pan position. The important feature is the angular relationship between arrows, not their absolute screen positions. The numerical values in the control panel provide precise angles.

Can I save my clicked locations? The export function saves data for your most recent click. For multiple locations, click each one and export separately. The tool doesn’t store session history, keeping your exploration private.

About Using the Data

How do I apply magnetic declination to compass navigation? If declination is easterly (positive), subtract it from compass bearings to get true bearings: True = Magnetic – Declination. If westerly (negative), add it: True = Magnetic + Declination. Or remember “East is least, West is best.”

What’s the “Total Correction” value for? Total Correction combines magnetic declination and grid convergence into a single value for converting compass bearings to grid bearings: Grid Bearing = Magnetic Bearing + Total Correction. This is the most useful value for practical map-and-compass navigation.

How often should I update declination values? Magnetic declination changes slowly (minutes of arc per year). Values remain accurate for 2-5 years. Update when traveling to new regions or when using maps more than 5-10 years old.

Do I need to worry about grid convergence? Yes, if you’re working with gridded maps (UTM, MGRS, State Plane) and need precision. For casual hiking with magnetic compass only, magnetic declination suffices. For surveying, GIS work, or military grid systems, grid convergence matters.

About the Concepts

Why are there three different norths? True North (geographic pole) is the fundamental reference. Magnetic North (compass direction) exists because Earth has a magnetic field. Grid North (map grid lines) exists because representing spherical Earth on flat maps requires geometric compromises. Each serves different purposes in navigation and mapping.

Which north should I use? Use Magnetic North for compass navigation, Grid North for gridded maps and GIS, True North for celestial navigation and geographic reference. The interactive tool shows how to convert between them.

Does magnetic declination change over time? Yes, due to secular variation (magnetic pole drift). Click a location, note the declination, then check the same location in 10 years—it will likely differ by several degrees. The tool shows current values based on the latest magnetic field models.

Why does grid convergence depend on latitude? The convergence formula includes sin(latitude), making convergence larger at higher latitudes. Click systematically north from the equator while watching the blue arrow—you’ll see convergence grow larger, demonstrating this mathematical relationship visually.

Start Exploring Now

The best way to understand True North, Magnetic North, and Grid North is to see them yourself. Open the interactive tool. Click your location. Watch the arrows spread apart. Read the values. Then click somewhere else and compare.

Each click is a discovery. Each location tells a story about Earth’s magnetic field, map projection mathematics, and navigation fundamentals. The more you explore, the more intuitive these concepts become.

Whether you navigate professionally or recreationally, teach orienteering or study geophysics, plan surveys or simply curious about magnetic fields, the interactive experience awaits. Click anywhere on Earth and see what compasses really point toward.