What is True North?

• A. True north is defined as any point on the Earth's surface toward the North Pole.
• B. True north is the direction toward the magnetic pole.
• C. True north is the same as magnetic north.
• D. True north is any direction not specified

Answer: (A)

True North is the direction toward the geographic North Pole, the fixed point where the Earth's axis meets the surface. This provides a constant reference for navigation and maps, since it doesn’t move with time or location. Magnetic North, by contrast, is the direction a compass points and is determined by Earth's magnetic field; it shifts over time and varies by where you are. So True North isn’t the magnetic pole, nor is it any random direction. The description that points toward the North Pole matches the consistent, geographic reference used in navigation.