Versta to Decimeter Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert versts to decimeters with our free online length converter.
Versta to Decimeter Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Versta).
- The converted value in Decimeter will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Length category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Versta to Decimeter
Converting Versta to Decimeter involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Versta = 1.0668e+4 decimetersExample Calculation:
Convert 10 versts: 10 × 1.0668e+4 = 1.0668e+5 decimeters
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.
What is a Versta and a Decimeter?
The Versta (Russian: верста́, plural: вёрсты, vyorsty) is an obsolete Russian unit of length or distance. It was defined as being equal to 500 sazhenes (саже́нь).
Based on the standardized sajene of 7 English feet (2.1336 meters) established under Peter the Great, one Versta is equal to:
- 1066.8 meters (m)
- 1.0668 kilometers (km)
- Approximately 3500 feet (ft)
- Approximately 0.6629 miles (mi)
The decimeter (symbol: dm) is a unit of length in the metric system. It is defined as exactly one-tenth (1/10) of a meter, which is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). Therefore, 1 meter equals 10 decimeters.
Note: The Versta is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Decimeter belongs to the metric (SI) system.
History of the Versta and Decimeter
The Versta was a traditional unit of distance in Russia, used since at least the 11th century. Its length varied historically until Peter the Great standardized the Russian system of measures in the 18th century, linking the sajene to the English foot (1 sajene = 7 feet). This fixed the Versta at 500 * 7 = 3500 feet, or 1066.8 meters.
- Imperial Russia: The Versta became the standard unit for measuring road distances throughout the Russian Empire. Roads were often marked with verst posts (верстово́й столб, verstovoy stolb) indicating distances.
- Mezhevaya Versta: A less common "boundary versta" (межева́я верста́, mezhevaya versta) also existed, primarily for land surveying. It was twice as long, equal to 1000 sazhenes (approximately 2.13 km). Unless specified otherwise, "Versta" usually refers to the standard 500-sajene unit.
- Metrication: The Versta became obsolete after the Russian Revolution. The metric system was officially adopted in 1918 and became mandatory in 1925, replacing the traditional Russian units.
The decimeter originates from the French Revolution era, when the metric system was developed and introduced in France in the 1790s. The system aimed to create a rational and universal standard of measurement based on decimal multiples and submultiples of base units. The prefix "deci-" signifies a factor of one-tenth (10⁻¹). While the meter became the standard, the decimeter was defined as a convenient subdivision.
Common Uses for versts and decimeters
Explore the typical applications for both Versta (imperial/US) and Decimeter (metric) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for versts
The Versta was primarily used for:
- Measuring Travel Distances: It was the standard unit for road distances between towns and cities in Imperial Russia. Maps, travel guides, and road markers all used Versts.
- Postal System: Distances for mail delivery and stagecoach routes were measured in Versts.
- Literature: The Versta frequently appears in Russian literature of the 18th and 19th centuries (e.g., works by Pushkin, Gogol, Tolstoy, Chekhov) to describe journeys and distances, adding historical context.
- Military: Used for measuring marching distances and geographical surveys.
Its use today is purely historical or literary.
Common Uses for decimeters
Although less frequently used in everyday measurements compared to the meter, centimeter, or millimeter, the decimeter finds application in certain contexts:
- Education: Often used in schools to teach the metric system and decimal relationships (10 dm = 1 m, 1 dm = 10 cm).
- Crafts and Sewing: Sometimes used for measuring fabric or materials where increments of 10 centimeters are practical.
- Scientific Fields: Occasionally used in specific scientific measurements or contexts where this scale is convenient.
- Volume: The cubic decimeter (dm³) is a very common unit of volume, as it is exactly equal to one liter (L). This link makes the decimeter conceptually important in understanding metric volume.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Versta (versta)
How long is a Versta?
A standard Versta is exactly:
- 1066.8 meters
- 1.0668 kilometers
- Approximately 0.6629 miles
- Approximately 3500 feet
- Exactly 500 sazhenes
What were the main related Russian units?
The Versta was part of the Imperial Russian system of measures:
- 1 Versta = 500 Sajenes (саже́нь)
- 1 Sajene = 3 Arshins (арши́н) ≈ 2.13 m / 7 ft
- 1 Arshin = 16 Vershoks (вершо́к) ≈ 71.1 cm / 28 in
- 1 Vershok ≈ 4.445 cm / 1.75 in
Was there more than one type of Versta?
Yes, besides the standard "travel" Versta (500 sazhenes), there was a Mezhevaya Versta ("boundary versta") used for land surveying, which was equal to 1000 sazhenes (about 2.13 km). The 500-sajene Versta was far more common.
Is the Versta still used today?
No, the Versta is obsolete. It was officially replaced by the kilometer and meter when Russia adopted the metric system in the early 20th century (mandatory from 1925). Its use is now confined to historical contexts and literature.
How does a Versta compare to a kilometer or a mile?
- A Versta is slightly longer than a kilometer: 1 Versta ≈ 1.07 km.
- A Versta is significantly shorter than a mile: 1 Versta ≈ 0.66 miles (roughly two-thirds of a mile). Conversely, 1 mile ≈ 1.51 Versts.
Is the Versta an SI unit?
No, the Versta is not an SI unit. It is a traditional unit from the historical Russian system of measurement. The SI base unit for length is the meter (m).
About Decimeter (dm)
How many decimeters are in a meter?
There are exactly 10 decimeters in 1 meter.
How many centimeters are in a decimeter?
There are exactly 10 centimeters in 1 decimeter.
How many millimeters are in a decimeter?
There are exactly 100 millimeters in 1 decimeter (since 1 dm = 10 cm and 1 cm = 10 mm).
How do you convert decimeters to inches?
To convert decimeters to inches, multiply the number of decimeters by approximately 3.93701. For example, 2 dm is about 2 * 3.93701 = 7.874 inches.
Is the decimeter commonly used?
The decimeter is not as commonly used in everyday language or general measurements as meters, centimeters, or even millimeters. However, it is a standard metric unit and is particularly important conceptually due to the cubic decimeter being equal to a liter.
What is a cubic decimeter?
A cubic decimeter (dm³) is a unit of volume equal to the volume of a cube with sides one decimeter (10 cm) long. It is exactly equivalent to 1 liter (L).
Conversion Table: Versta to Decimeter
| Versta (versta) | Decimeter (dm) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 10,668 |
| 5 | 53,340 |
| 10 | 106,680 |
| 25 | 266,700 |
| 50 | 533,400 |
| 100 | 1,066,800 |
| 500 | 5,334,000 |
| 1,000 | 10,668,000 |
All Length Conversions
Other Units from Length
- Meter (m)
- Kilometer (km)
- Hectometer (hm)
- Centimeter (cm)
- Millimeter (mm)
- Inch (in)
- Foot (ft)
- Yard (yd)
- Mile (mi)
- Nautical Mile (NM)
- Micrometer (μm)
- Nanometer (nm)
- Light Year (ly)
- Astronomical Unit (AU)
- Parsec (pc)
- Angstrom (Å)
- Point (Typography) (pt)
- Mil/Thou (mil)
- Fathom (fath)
- Furlong (fur)
- Link (Gunter's) (li)
- Pace (pace)
- Span (span)
- Digit (digit)
- Cable Length (cb)
- Ell (ell)
- Finger (finger)
- Roman Mile (m.p.)
- Stadion (stadion)
- Chi (Chinese) (chi)
- Shaku (Japanese) (shaku)
- Li (Chinese) (li)
- Toise (toise)
- Bolt (bolt)
- Rope (rope)
- Smoot (smoot)
- Sajene (sajene)
- Ken (ken)
- Wa (wa)
- Vara (vara)
- Aln (aln)
- Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) (cubit)
- Arpent (arpent)
- Ri (Japanese) (ri)
- Klafter (klafter)
- Yojana (yojana)
- Skein (skein)