South facts for kids
South is one of the four main directions on a compass. It is opposite to North and is usually shown at the bottom of most maps. Knowing where south is helps us understand where places are located in relation to each other. For example, Ghana is to the south of Nigeria, and Nigeria is to the south of Morocco.
What is the Direction South?
South is a fundamental direction used in navigation and geography. When you face North, south is directly behind you. If you are using a compass, the needle that points north will help you find south, as it's always in the opposite direction.
South on Maps and Compasses
On most maps, the top edge represents north, the bottom edge represents south, the right edge represents East, and the left edge represents West. This standard way of drawing maps makes it easy to understand locations around the world.
A compass is a tool that helps you find directions. It has a magnetic needle that always points to the Earth's magnetic north pole. Once you know where north is, you can easily find south by looking in the exact opposite direction.
The South Pole
The South Pole is the southernmost point on Earth. It is located in Antarctica, a continent covered in ice. The South Pole is the farthest south you can go on our planet. It's a very cold and icy place, but it's important for scientific research, especially for studying Earth's climate and magnetic field.
Knowing about directions like south is super helpful for many things, from reading a map to understanding global geography and even for adventures like hiking or sailing!
See also
In Spanish: Sur para niños
