Preposition for Directions

Question

- Le soleil se lève dans l'est. - Le soleil se lève à l'est. Are both correct? Can you please explain why "dans" is not used? à l'est would mean 'to the east' and not 'in the east'?? - https://www.lawlessfrench.com/vocabulary/directions/

Accepted Answer

Aashpreet, 
this is simply another example of seemingly different preposition usage between French and English. 
I say ‘seemingly’ because it appears that way when we attach a specific English meaning to a French preposition and then expect the French preposition to always have that English meaning. It also happens in reverse, of course. In both languages, prepositions can have an array of meanings and often quite idiomatic usage.
‘ Le soleil se lève à l’est (se couche à l’ouest) ‘ are the expressions used in French, not ‘ dans l’est/dans l’ouest ‘.
 https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/prepositions/