Why does a compass needle point toward the north pole?

A compass needle points toward the North Pole because it is a small magnet that aligns itself with Earth's magnetic field. The Earth acts like a giant magnet with magnetic poles near the geographic North and South Poles. The north end of the compass needle, which is magnetized, is attracted to the Earth's magnetic north, causing it to orient itself in that direction. This alignment enables navigators to determine cardinal directions based on the compass's indication of north.