How did travelers use the north star so they would not lose their way?

Travelers used the North Star, or Polaris, as a reliable navigational tool because it is positioned nearly directly above the North Pole. By locating Polaris in the night sky, they could determine true north, allowing them to maintain their directional course. Its fixed position made it especially useful for navigation in the Northern Hemisphere, helping travelers orient themselves and avoid getting lost during their journeys.