I understand it is a popular misconception that a magnetic compass points to the magnetic north pole.
In fact a magnetic compass aligns itself with the magnetic lines of force in its own location.
Here in the UK these lines of force seem to coincide very closely with the actual physical direction of magnetic north so is a poor example when trying to explain the popular misconception.
Please can anyone advise me of a location where the physical direction of the magnetic north pole varies considerably with the compass.
Thanks
Mike
http://www.geo-orbit.org/sizepgs/magmapsp.html
Here in North America: Boston, Los Angeles Harbor, Adak Alaska.
Other charts are available, see the links at the top.
To find a location where the physical direction of the magnetic north pole varies considerably with the compass, you can use a tool called a declination calculator or a magnetic declination map. Magnetic declination refers to the angle between true north (geographic north) and magnetic north. This angle varies depending on your location on the Earth's surface.
You can find declination calculators or maps on various websites or smartphone apps, such as the National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) websites. These tools allow you to input your location or select it directly from a map. They will then provide you with the magnetic declination for that location.
By using such a tool, you can identify areas where there is a significant difference between magnetic north and true north. In these areas, a magnetic compass will not align closely with the physical direction of the magnetic north pole, making it a good example to explain the misconception.
For example, one place where the magnetic declination is quite substantial is the Nullarbor Plain in Australia. In this region, the magnetic north differs greatly from true north; therefore, a compass would show a significant variation from the actual physical direction of the magnetic north pole.
Keep in mind that magnetic declination changes over time due to the movement of the Earth's magnetic field, so it's important to use up-to-date information when looking for places with significant variations between magnetic north and true north.