How would you write a compass rose on a map of Antarctica?

Answer 1

This is an interesting question to answer. Since a compass rose is a figure, actually, you'd draw one, not write one.

Since everywhere on earth is north of Antarctica, on a flat map, the design would be easy: place the compass rose at a latitude north of the South Pole where it intersects with the International Date line (or the Prime Meridian), then north, south, east and west all point appropriately.

Most maps show Antarctica flattened all across the bottom of the map and don't show Antarctica all the way to 90 degrees South Latitude (nor do they show the Arctic to 90 degrees North Latitude).

If Antarctica were the center of the flat map, you'd need multiple compass roses, because of the differences in direction of the International Date Line and the Prime Meridian for east and west.

Finally, you wouldn't draw a compass rose at the South Pole, or if you did, all the points would point north.