Convert compass bearings to true bearings by accounting for local magnetic variation.
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Enter your compass heading and the local magnetic declination
Overview
Magnetic declination is the angle on the horizontal plane between magnetic north (the direction the north end of a magnetized compass needle points) and true north. This value varies across the Earth's surface and also slowly changes over time as the magnetic poles shift.
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Pro Tips
East Declination: Magnetic North is East of True North (Compass reads lower than True).
West Declination: Magnetic North is West of True North (Compass reads higher than True).
Always check a recent local topographical map or NOAA data for your local declination.
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Fun Facts
"In 2020, the Magnetic North Pole moved away from Arctic Canada and towards Siberia at a rate of 55 km per year."
"The angle of declination can exceed 20 degrees in parts of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska."
"Vikings used 'sunstones' (polarizing crystals) to find the sun and true north even on cloudy days, long before the compass was standard in Europe."
