The Vikings were one of the most fearsome and successful seafaring peoples of the medieval period, known for their raiding and trading expeditions across Europe and beyond. One of the secrets to their success was their advanced navigational skills, which allowed them to navigate the treacherous waters of the North Sea and reach their destinations with precision. One of the tools that the Vikings used to aid them in their navigation was a calcite crystal.
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Calcite is a common mineral that can be found in many different forms, including as clear, colorless crystals. Calcite crystals have a unique property known as birefringence, which means that they refract light in two different directions. This property can be used to create a polarizing filter, which is a type of filter that only allows light to pass through in one direction.
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The Vikings used calcite crystals as a navigational aid because they could be used to determine the position of the sun even when it was obscured by clouds or fog. To use a calcite crystal as a polarizing filter, the Vikings would hold the crystal up to the sky and rotate it until the sky appeared darkest through the crystal. This would indicate the position of the sun, even if it was not visible to the naked eye.
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By using calcite crystals in this way, the Vikings were able to determine their position and navigate their ships even when conditions were less than ideal. This gave them a significant advantage over other seafaring peoples of the time and allowed them to conduct their raids and expeditions with greater efficiency and precision.
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The use of calcite crystals for navigation is just one example of the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the Vikings. Despite the many challenges they faced, the Vikings were able to develop advanced navigational techniques that allowed them to travel great distances and establish trade networks across Europe and beyond.
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Today, calcite crystals are still used in a variety of scientific and industrial applications, including as polarizing filters in microscopes and cameras. While their use in navigation may be less common, the legacy of the Vikings and their innovative spirit continues to inspire us to this day.