Distance: The Nautical Mile
A nautical mile is based on the circumference of the Earth. It's equal to one minute of latitude.
- 1 Nautical Mile = 1.1508 Statute (Land) Miles
- 1 Nautical Mile = 1.852 Kilometers
Depth: The Fathom
Used to measure the depth of water.
- 1 Fathom = 6 Feet (1.8288 meters)
- This was traditionally the span of a man's outstretched arms.
The Cable
A unit for shorter distances at sea.
- 1 Cable ≈ 0.1 Nautical Miles
Key Takeaways
- Nautical miles are longer than land miles
- Sounding is the process of measuring depth in fathoms
- Knots are nautical miles per hour