Local Knowledge

Local knowledge cannot be beaten when it comes to improvised navigation. Familiar Landmarks help the observer to assess directions and location. When landmarks are not visible, knowledge of the area comes into play, for example, the general direction of flow of rivers, or the fact that termites build mounds aligned N-S in northern Australia to help control internal temperature. Some flowers move to follow the sun, even when the sun is obscured behind heavy cloud. Wind directions are fickle and usually of little value for navigation: they change with time and wind directions in a gully are likely to be different on the ridge top. The direction of movement of weather systems gives a little more reliable information, however.