Magnetic Poles

[jellytot01]

Why is the south pole of the earth's magnet at the earth's geographical North Pole?

[PFD]

Every few thousand years or so the orientation of the Earth's magnetic field flips. It is not known what causes this phenomenon. Incidentally, the next switch is long overdue.

[Dacetine]

I'm guessing here but it may be because we originally defined magnetic North and South poles in reference to compass needles rather than to the Earth's magnetic field. In magnetism opposites attract, so our "North" compass pole is attracted to Earth's "South" magnetic pole (which is at Earth's geographical north pole).

Does this make any sense whatsoever?

[shaun_04]

The North pole of a bar magnet was named so, because it points to the North of the Earth.