The control flag marks the spot that is
circled on the map. It is made of fabric hung on a triangular box-kite-like wire
frame. Each of the three square cloth faces is made up of a white upper triangle
and an orange lower triangle. In Australia, the flag is usually hung from a metal
stake stuck in the ground. Club or training events might hang the flag from a
branch or piece of deadwood near the control site.
Attached to or near the control flag are one or more punches and a card with the "control code" or number of the control. Each flag is assigned a unique control code, usually a 2-3 digit combination. These codes allow the orienteer to determine that the control is in fact the correct one. The codes are usually listed in the clues that define the controls for each course, and many orienteers write the control codes in the corresponding boxes of the control card, to help make sure that they never punch at the wrong control or in the wrong box of the punch card.