1. In a map, they are written in a 'rosa dos ventos'.
2. They are collectively known as 'pontos cardeais'.
3. The capital of Brazil was designed to use them as references.

Even though these can be used normally, its more common in Brazil to use other places as references. So, instead of saying that something is to the North, its more usual to say that it is in front of something else or next to it (in the proximities).