IOF marker position: north side

A quadrant mark giving a compass side.

Also known as: Side of feature symbol, Control description north side

Maps & navigationSport & gamesStandard profile

Meanings

The IOF control description symbol placing the marker on a named side of the feature.

Officially standardisedVerified fact
Places the control marker on a named compass side of the feature.
Contexts: Maps
Officially standardisedVerified fact
Uses a compass direction rather than a relative one, because a competitor may approach from any bearing and left and right would be meaningless.
Contexts: Maps

A small circle or square with one quadrant marked, the marked quadrant giving the side.

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is defined by a current official standard, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is defined by a current official standard, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.

IOF Control Descriptions
International Orienteering Federation · retrieved 2026-08-25
The IOF specification defining the pictorial control description symbols, the columns of the description sheet and the meaning of each symbol within its column. Cited for a symbol's identity and defined meaning. Records describe the notation and are not competition rules.

Last reviewed 2026-08-25

Meanings

The IOF control description symbol placing the marker on a named side of the feature.

Officially standardisedVerified fact

Places the control marker on a named compass side of the feature.

Contexts: Maps

Officially standardisedVerified fact

Uses a compass direction rather than a relative one, because a competitor may approach from any bearing and left and right would be meaningless.

Contexts: Maps

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is defined by a current official standard, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is defined by a current official standard, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.

Sources

IOF Control Descriptions
International Orienteering Federation · retrieved 2026-08-25
The IOF specification defining the pictorial control description symbols, the columns of the description sheet and the meaning of each symbol within its column. Cited for a symbol's identity and defined meaning. Records describe the notation and are not competition rules.

Last reviewed 2026-08-25