What feature does a compass rose provide on a map?

A compass rose is a vital feature on a map that indicates the directions of the cardinal points, which include North, East, South, and West, as well as intermediate directions like Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, and Southwest. By providing these directional indicators, the compass rose helps users orient themselves and understand how to navigate the terrain represented on the map. It is particularly useful for determining the direction of travel and understanding the layout of the area in relation to the compass points.

Other features such as the area covered by the map, the elevation of the terrain, and the scale of the map serve different purposes. The area covered informs users about the geographic scope of the map, elevation details are used to understand the topography, and the scale allows for measuring distances. However, none of these features directly relate to the primary function of a compass rose, which is to show direction.