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England Says Goodbye to Rare 'Three Norths' Alignment
16 Dec
Summary
- The rare alignment of true, magnetic, and grid north has left England.
- This 'once-in-a-lifetime' event may not recur for centuries.
- The alignment's departure from Berwick-upon-Tweed occurred on December 13, 2025.
A unique geospatial phenomenon, the alignment of true, magnetic, and grid north, has concluded its journey through England. This rare convergence, which began in Dorset in November 2022, officially left England on December 13, 2025, from Berwick-upon-Tweed and entered the North Sea. Experts describe this alignment as a 'once-in-a-lifetime occurrence,' noting that it may take several centuries to reappear in Britain due to the unpredictable movement of magnetic north.
The three definitions of north—true north (geographic north pole), grid north (map convergence), and magnetic north (compass direction influenced by Earth's core)—coincided for over three years. The alignment's path across England was meticulously tracked, passing through various towns and regions before reaching its northernmost point. Its departure marks a significant moment in geospatial history, though it has no direct impact on navigation.
While the alignment is now over the North Sea, it is expected to reach Scotland in the coming months and continue its journey before magnetic north eventually diverges from true and grid north. The British Geological Survey attributes the rarity of this event to the slow and variable drift of magnetic north, which is driven by the molten iron in the Earth's core, making long-term predictions impossible.
