There is more than one type of Nautical Mile
There are a few different types of Nautical Mile. On this site we have conversions for US Nautical miles, UK Nautical miles and International Nautical miles. Please either select the appropriate unit on the selection above of click the required unit in the links below:
What is a nautical mile?
A nautical mile is a unit of measurement used in navigation and maritime travel. It is defined as one minute of latitude along any meridian, making it a unit of distance that varies slightly depending on the Earth's shape. The nautical mile is commonly used in aviation and shipping industries due to its convenience in measuring distances over water.
Historically, the nautical mile was derived from the circumference of the Earth, with one minute of latitude being divided into 60 equal parts to create the nautical mile. This unit of measurement is particularly useful for sailors and pilots as it allows for easy calculation of distances based on the Earth's coordinates. The nautical mile is also used in international treaties and agreements related to maritime boundaries and navigation regulations.
What is a UK Nautical Mile?
A UK nautical mile is a unit of measurement used in navigation and maritime activities in the United Kingdom. It is defined as one minute of latitude along any meridian on the Earth's surface. This means that a UK nautical mile is equal to 1/60th of a degree of latitude.
The UK nautical mile is primarily used in marine navigation, especially for measuring distances at sea. It provides a standardized unit of measurement that allows sailors and navigators to accurately determine their position and plan their routes. It is worth noting that the UK nautical mile is slightly longer than the international nautical mile, which is defined as 1,852 meters or 6,076.11549 feet.