text: when they first went to the north and south poles how did they know the exact position? no sat nav then how can sightings of the sun ect give a position acurate enough to plant the flag in the right snot. they could have been way out and never got there? if you have a small compus, as used by the early age sailors, you will see the north is indicated at northen pole, even if you make it rorate, it will come back to its position again and show the north direction. once you reach the exact north pole, then the compus will not work, it will keep rotating as the magnetic lines will pass through and thus you will know that you are at exact north pole.... and same is true for south pole as well ... hope i have answered your question... :)