Why is it that earth is always shown with north pole on top and never the otherway around?

Answer 1

Duh?

Answer 2

That depiction has only become the nicely-known convention. there is no reason of it different than that that is been that way for an exceedingly long term. If the 1st human beings to make maps of huge aspects of the earth have been in the southern hemisphere, then that's completely conceivable that what we now call the south pole could be acknowledged because of the fact the right. that's an accident of historic past.

Answer 3

Blame it on the original cartographers who were first to map their world and started drawing their maps in the northern hemisphere. Along the edge, they put the words, "Here there be dragons" and left it at that. Ever since, it has been custom to have North at the top and east to the right. Cartographers in the southern hemisphere DID make maps which to us look upside down, but the North was in the majority and won out in time. It was simply a matter of convenience at first and has become the standard so maps are now consistent everywhere you go.

Answer 4

The north star (the one that never moves and is used as a referance is what caused star charts to always use north as up.

The orientation of maps has always been with east up hence the term orientation (Up towards to orient[east])

Ptolemy and others started using north up and most non polar projections use north as up.

Polar maps have their own convention.

The North up is actually a violation of convention because it makes the earth rotate counter clockwise and of course it should be rotating clockwise.

This very same convention may have had an influence on the north up. They may have thought that the cosmos should rotate clockwise.

It is not to late to change it now. uh well, maybe it is.

Answer 5

I have seen globes before where the South Pole is on top.

It looks so funny being used to seeing it the other way around.

Answer 6

I was actually asking someone this just earlier today. He told me it just became custom over time with various explorers in history, so I did a little research. Here's a site that puts it pretty succinctly: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_159.html

As an aside, there are some maps that have south at the top, if you do a search for them; you just don't see them that often.

Hope that helps!

Answer 7

xc Because we (man) are used to it. We always consider north to be top and south to be bottom, it became custom that way. But there are maps and globes displaying it just the other way around.

Answer 8

its all about magnets, the earths molten core and where they point.

we decided north sounded good and it followed the earths magnetic fields.

so it was!!

now they say the field switches polarity over 300,000 years

we're on a downfall now and in only a few centuries we'll switch polarities again


Soon south will become the new "north"

if we survive


then, after a few thousands of years our maps may be switched around

Answer 9

It is shown on maps originating in northern hemisphere countries US,Europe etc. if you go to Australia or South America the maps look the opposite. This is according to my Geography professor.

Answer 10

north pole remain in the north

Answer 11

Because it would be pretty damn confusing when you try finding things if it is always presented in different orientation.