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1 chain (ch) = 0.003620734 league (league). Chain (ch) is a unit of Length used in Standard system. League (league) is a unit of Length used in Standard system.

Chain: A Unit of Length Used for Measuring Land

The chain is a unit of length that is equal to 66 feet or 22 yards or 4 rods or 100 links. It is part of the US customary and imperial measurement systems. It is used for measuring land, especially in surveying and mapping. The symbol for chain is ch. There are 10 chains in a furlong, and 80 chains in one statute mile. An acre is the area of 10 square chains. The unit is named after the chain, a measuring device that was invented by Edmund Gunter, a clergyman and mathematician, in the 17th century. The chain is also sometimes called a Gunter’s chain, a surveyor’s chain or a land chain. In this article, we will explore the definition, history, usage and conversion of the chain as a unit of length.

Definition of the Unit

The chain is a unit of length that is equal to 66 feet or 22 yards or 4 rods or 100 links. It is one of the base units in the US customary and imperial measurement systems, along with the foot, the yard and the mile. The chain is also a derived unit in the International System of Units (SI), which is the most widely used system of measurement in the world. The SI base unit of length is the meter, which is defined as the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299792458 seconds.

The definition of the chain has not changed since its introduction by Edmund Gunter in 1620, who based it on an earlier English unit called an acre’s breadth, which was equal to one-tenth of a furlong or one-eightieth of a mile. However, the definition of the foot, which is used to define the chain, has changed several times over time, as different standards and methods of measurement were adopted by various countries and regions. The current definition of the foot as 0.3048 meter was agreed upon by an international treaty in 1959.

History of the Unit

The origin of the chain as a unit of length can be traced back to 1620, when Edmund Gunter created a measuring device called a chain. The chain was 66 feet long and consisted of 100 metal links connected by three rings each. The links were made of thick wire with a loop at each end. The chain had brass handles at each end for holding and folding. Gunter chose this unit because it was convenient for his work on surveying and mapping land. He also named this unit after himself, as he wrote in his book: "I have taken as unit for these measurements one hundredth part [of a furlong], which I will call an Chain".

Gunter’s unit was soon adopted by other surveyors and mapmakers, who found it useful for measuring distances and areas on flat or gently sloping land. The chain was also used for laying out roads, railways and canals. The chain became part of the US customary and imperial measurement systems, which were based on earlier English units that were brought by British settlers to America. The chain was also used in some other countries influenced by British practice, such as Canada and India.

In 1785, when the United States Congress passed the Land Ordinance Act to survey and divide the public land west of the Appalachian Mountains into rectangular townships and sections, the use of the chain as a unit of measurement was mandated by law. The act also defined the chain as equal to four rods or poles or perches. The surveyors who carried out this work were known as "chain bearers" or "chain carriers", and they marked each mile along their survey lines with wooden posts called "milestones".

In 1959, when the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth countries agreed to adopt a common definition of the foot as 0.3048 meter, based on the international yard that was defined as 0.9144 meter by an international treaty in 1959, the chain became exactly equal to 20.1168 meters.

Usage of the Unit

The chain is a unit of length that is used for measuring land, especially in surveying and mapping. The chain is also used for measuring distances on roads, railways and canals. The chain is still used in some rural areas and historical contexts in the United States, Canada and some other countries that follow the US customary or imperial measurement systems.

The chain is used for various purposes, such as:

• Measuring length, width and area of land parcels and properties.
• Measuring distances and dimensions on maps and plans.
• Measuring boundaries and borders between states, counties and townships.
• Measuring road widths and lengths.
• Measuring railway track gauges and lengths.
• Measuring canal widths and depths.

How to Convert

The chain can be converted to other units of length by using conversion factors or formulas. Here are some examples of how to convert chains to other units of length in the US customary system, the imperial system and the SI system:

• To convert chains to feet, multiply by 66. For example, 10 ch = 10 × 66 = 660 ft.
• To convert chains to yards, multiply by 22. For example, 10 ch = 10 × 22 = 220 yd.
• To convert chains to miles, divide by 80. For example, 10 ch = 10 / 80 = 0.125 mi.
• To convert chains to centimeters, multiply by 2011.68. For example, one ch = one × 2011.68 = 2011.68 cm.
• To convert chains to meters, multiply by 20.1168. For example, one ch = one × 20.1168 = 20.1168 m.
• To convert chains to kilometers, divide by 49.7097. For example, 10 ch = 10 / 49.7097 = 0.2012 km.

Equivalents in Other Units and Scales

The chain can be expressed in terms of other units of length by using equivalent values or ratios. Here are some examples of how to express chains in other units of length:

• One chain is equal to four rods or poles or perches.
• One chain is equal to one-tenth of a furlong or one-eightieth of a mile.
• One chain is equal to one-hundredth of a league or one-fortieth of a league (US).
• One chain is equal to one-hundred-millionth of an astronomical unit or one-forty-billionth of a light-year.
• One chain is equal to one-thousandth of a nautical mile or one-three-thousand-six-hundredth of a degree of latitude or longitude.

League: A Unit of Length

The league is an old unit of length that was common in Europe and Latin America, but is no longer official in any nation. It was derived from an ancient Celtic unit and adopted by the Romans. It was the distance a person or a horse could walk in about one hour, usually about 3 to 5 kilometers. The league varied in length from 2.4 to 4.6 statute miles in different regions.

In this article, we will explore the definition, history, usage and conversion of the league as a unit of length.

Definition of the League

The league is a unit of length that is equal to 3 miles or 4.8 kilometers in the English-speaking countries. However, the word league often refers to the Spanish, Portuguese or French league, which have different values.

The Spanish league was originally defined as 5,000 varas (a Spanish yard), about 2.6 miles or 4.2 kilometers. The Portuguese league was also 5,000 varas, but the vara was slightly longer, making the league about 2.7 miles or 4.4 kilometers. The French league was based on the nautical mile and was equal to 3 nautical miles or 5.6 kilometers.

The league is not a standard unit and has no symbol.

History of the League

The origin of the league as a unit of length can be traced back to ancient times, when it was used as a measure of distance based on the human or animal pace. The word league comes from the Latin word leuga, which was derived from the Celtic word leuca. It referred to the distance that could be covered by a person or a horse in one hour.

The league was used by the Romans, who defined it as one and a half Roman miles (7,500 Roman feet or 2.2 kilometers). The Roman league was also called leuga Gallica (the Gaulish league) or leuga Germanica (the Germanic league), depending on the region.

The league was adopted by other countries that followed the Roman system of measurement, such as Spain, Portugal and France. It varied in length from country to country and from time to time, depending on local standards and methods of measurement.

The league was abolished by Philip II of Spain in 1568, but it continued to be used unofficially in some parts of Latin America. The league was also incorporated into the imperial system of measurement, which was established by an act of Parliament in 1824. The imperial system was based on seven base units that could be derived from natural and traditional units. The league remained as a derived unit in the imperial system, but it was no longer recommended for use in scientific and technical fields.

Usage of the League

The league is a unit of length that is used for measuring long distances and dimensions, such as the length of a road or the circumference of a lake.

The league is rarely used in modern times, except for historical or literary purposes. However, some countries still use it for some specific applications.

For example:

• In Argentina, a league is equal to 5 kilometers and is used for measuring land area.
• In Brazil, a league is equal to 6 kilometers and is used for measuring distances on roads and highways.
• In Mexico, a league is variable and depends on the terrain and the mode of transportation. It is used for measuring distances between towns and villages.
• In France, a league is equal to 4 kilometers and is used for measuring distances on maps and signs.
• In Spain, a league is equal to 4 kilometers and is used for measuring distances on roads and highways.

Example Conversions of League to Other Units

The league can be converted to other units of length by using different factors and formulas. Here are some examples of conversion for different types of leagues:

• To convert an English league to miles, multiply by 3:

1 English league x 3 = 3 miles

• To convert an English league to kilometers, multiply by 4.8:

1 English league x 4.8 = 4.8 kilometers

• To convert a Spanish league to miles, multiply by 2.6:

1 Spanish league x 2.6 = 2.6 miles

• To convert a Spanish league to kilometers, multiply by 4.2:

1 Spanish league x 4.2 = 4.2 kilometers

• To convert a Portuguese league to miles, multiply by 2.7:

1 Portuguese league x 2.7 = 2.7 miles

• To convert a Portuguese league to kilometers, multiply by 4.4:

1 Portuguese league x 4.4 = 4.4 kilometers

• To convert a French league to miles, multiply by 3.5:

1 French league x 3.5 = 3.5 miles

• To convert a French league to kilometers, multiply by 5.6:

1 French league x 5.6 = 5.6 kilometers

• To convert a mile to leagues, divide by the appropriate factor:

1 mile / 3 = 0.333 English leagues

1 mile / 2.6 = 0.385 Spanish leagues

1 mile / 2.7 = 0.370 Portuguese leagues

1 mile / 3.5 = 0.286 French leagues

• To convert a kilometer to leagues, divide by the appropriate factor:

1 kilometer / 4.8 = 0.208 English leagues

1 kilometer / 4.2 = 0.238 Spanish leagues

1 kilometer / 4.4 = 0.227 Portuguese leagues

1 kilometer / 5.6 = 0.179 French leagues