In relation to a compass, what does the needle point to when laid on a map?

When a compass is laid on a map, the needle points to magnetic north. This is due to the way compasses function; they are designed to align themselves with the Earth's magnetic field. Unlike true north, which refers to the direction towards the North Pole based on the Earth's axis, magnetic north indicates the direction a compass points, which can differ from true north depending on the location due to the magnetic declination. Understanding this distinction is crucial for navigation, as map reading often requires an adjustment from magnetic north to true north to accurately align with geographic coordinates.