# Top of the world.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-of-the-world/2154>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 24, 1999, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-of-the-world/2154 "1999-07-24T22:29:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 1999, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-of-the-world/2154/1 "1999-07-24T22:29:00Z")

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Why do we place the north pole at the top?  
Peace,  
mangeorge

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 1999, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-of-the-world/2154/2 "1999-07-24T22:42:00Z")

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So Santa won’t fall off the planet!

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 1999, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-of-the-world/2154/3 "1999-07-24T23:36:00Z")

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Dang it, PapaBear!  
OPeace,  
mangeorge

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 1999, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-of-the-world/2154/4 "1999-07-25T00:33:00Z")

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Why? Well, what else are you gonna do with it?

Actually, that’s a good question. One that I don’t have an answer for.

But I remember studying several old maps (1400’s or so), and East was at the top on almost half of 'em.

Was someone put in charge of The Dept of Map Uniformity at some point?

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 1999, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-of-the-world/2154/5 "1999-07-25T02:17:00Z")

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I heard once that the reason that north is up, is that the majority of early civilizations were in the northern hemisphere. Sounds reasonable to me.

* * *

Carpe hoc!

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 1999, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-of-the-world/2154/6 "1999-07-25T02:22:00Z")

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Aha! I thought Cecil had covered this. Check this out…

[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_159.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_159.html)

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 1999, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-of-the-world/2154/7 "1999-07-25T19:06:00Z")

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Thanks, MrKnowItAll. I guess I didn’t use the right key words when I searched.  
I think I’ll turn my globe south pole up, just for kicks.  
Peace,  
mangeorge

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 1999, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-of-the-world/2154/8 "1999-07-26T02:03:00Z")

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'Sides, magnetic north is that way, so we might as well put it up on top. When there’s a magnetic south, they can be on top.

* * *

“I guess it is possible for one person to make a difference, although most of the time they probably shouldn’t.”

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 1999, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-of-the-world/2154/9 "1999-07-26T02:06:00Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> I think I’ll turn my globe south pole up, just for kicks.

Control yourself, mg, there may be children reading this.