How to Set Magnetic Declination on a Compass for Nunavut

Nunavut's vastness and its proximity to the magnetic north pole causes the magnetic declination, the difference between magnetic and true north, to vary greatly across the territory. In the east, the declination reads 33 degrees west, and in the west it is 33 degrees east. At Nunavut's northerly reaches, declination might read over 90 degrees west. Many compasses adjust for up to 60 degrees of declination, but at the extremes, such as on all of Ellesmere Island, you might need to use the old navigation rhyme: west is best, and east is least.

Things You'll Need

  • Map
  • Compass
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Instructions

    • 1

      Find the compass rose or the declination legend on your map or chart. Note the declination stated on the rose or legend. Some Canadian topographic maps use grid lines instead of latitude and longitude lines. If your map does, use grid declination instead of true declination when relating your bearings between ground and map. The maps legend states the degrees of grid declination.

    • 2

      Turn the declination scale on your compass until it reads the declination found on the map. On some compasses, turning a screw rotates the scale. On others, the housing, the part that holds the needle, rotates freely of the dial, the ring marked with degrees. On this type of compass, twist the housing until the declination scale reads correctly. Find the declination scale in the compass housing or on the compass' bottom.

    • 3

      Apply the declination rhyme to areas that have extreme declination readings beyond your compass' declination adjustment scale. The rhyme reads, "West is best, and east is least." This means if the declination is west, add the degrees of declination to your compass reading when going from map to ground. When declination is east, subtract the degrees. To go from ground to map, do the opposite.