# Which way is Timbuktu? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 13, 2008, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-is-timbuktu/452802 "2008-06-13T13:51:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-is-timbuktu/452802/1 "2008-06-13T13:51:55Z")
I am located at about 40°N, 76°W. How can I calculate the direction to [Timbuktu](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timbuktu), three-dimensionally speaking? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-is-timbuktu/452802/2 "2008-06-13T14:16:22Z")
[QUOTE=WF Tomba] I am located at about 40°N, 76°W. How can I calculate the direction to [Timbuktu](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timbuktu), three-dimensionally speaking? [/QUOTE] How about [this?](http://andrew-gray.com/dist/) ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-is-timbuktu/452802/3 "2008-06-13T14:42:09Z")
Not clear what the OP meant - direction traveling on the surface of the Earth, or a straight line in 3 dimensions drawn through the earth? At any rate, you can’t take a taxicab there. ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-is-timbuktu/452802/4 "2008-06-13T14:49:36Z")
[QUOTE=yabob] Not clear what the OP meant - direction traveling on the surface of the Earth, or a straight line in 3 dimensions drawn through the earth? [/QUOTE] The latter. Using beowulff’s link plus some simple geometry, I determined that the direction is 99° from magnetic North (87° from true North) and 33° below horizontal. Thanks! Now I can put up my signpost! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-is-timbuktu/452802/5 "2008-06-13T15:14:04Z")
[QUOTE=yabob] Not clear what the OP meant - direction traveling on the surface of the Earth, or a straight line in 3 dimensions drawn through the earth? At any rate, you can’t take a taxicab there. [/QUOTE] No, that’s certainly not an option. You’d have to take Air France to Bamako, then Air Mali (on a very shaky and ancient Russian-built aircraft) to Timbuktu. You can reach it overland, but that’s not a drive for the faint of heart or the map impaired. Chefguy, former resident of Bamako. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-is-timbuktu/452802/6 "2008-06-13T15:42:14Z")
[QUOTE=WF Tomba] The latter. Using beowulff’s link plus some simple geometry, I determined that the direction is 99° from magnetic North (87° from true North) and 33° below horizontal. Thanks! Now I can put up my signpost! [/QUOTE] Why wouldn’t you point the signpost along the great circle? Unless whomever is using the sign finds it more efficient to tunnel through the earth? ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-is-timbuktu/452802/7 "2008-06-13T22:05:56Z")
[QUOTE=Santo Rugger] Why wouldn’t you point the signpost along the great circle? Unless whomever is using the sign finds it more efficient to tunnel through the earth? [/QUOTE] I want to make sure he doesn’t take a wrong turn at Albuquerque. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-is-timbuktu/452802/8 "2008-06-14T00:06:48Z")
[QUOTE=WF Tomba] I want to make sure he doesn’t take a wrong turn at Albuquerque. [/QUOTE] Don’t you mean “Alba-coi-kee”? ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-is-timbuktu/452802/9 "2008-06-14T00:51:08Z")
[QUOTE=Santo Rugger] Why wouldn’t you point the signpost along the great circle? Unless whomever is using the sign finds it more efficient to tunnel through the earth? [/QUOTE] Yes. If it’s one of those novelty signposts like you get at tourist destinations, most of them tend to have horizontal arms. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-is-timbuktu/452802/10 "2008-06-14T06:45:49Z")
somehow , this subject seems like it deserves a link to the famous thread: [where is smithereens?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=290967) 🙂