Versta to Roman Mile Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert versts to Roman miles with our free online length converter.
Versta to Roman Mile Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Versta).
- The converted value in Roman Mile 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 Roman Mile
Converting Versta to Roman Mile involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Versta = 0.720811 Roman milesExample Calculation:
Convert 10 versts: 10 × 0.720811 = 7.208108 Roman miles
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 Roman Mile?
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 Roman Mile (mille passus, meaning "thousand paces"; symbol m.p.) was the standard Roman unit for measuring longer distances.
It was defined as 1,000 Roman paces (passus).
Since one passus (a double step) was equal to 5 Roman feet (pes), the Roman mile was equivalent to:
- 1,000 paces (passus)
- 5,000 Roman feet (pedes)
The exact length varied slightly depending on the precise definition of the Roman foot used, but it is typically estimated as:
- Approximately 1,480 meters (m)
- Approximately 1.48 kilometers (km)
- Approximately 0.919 statute miles (mi)
- Approximately 4,856 feet (ft) (using a common estimate for the Roman foot)
Note: The Versta is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Roman Mile belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Versta and Roman Mile
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 Roman mile was established during the Roman Republic and Empire and was used extensively throughout Roman territories for measuring roads, distances between cities, and military movements. Roman roads were famously marked with milestones (miliarium) indicating the distance in Roman miles, often back to the Milliarium Aureum (Golden Milestone) in the Forum Romanum.
The Roman mile significantly influenced the development of the mile unit in other countries, including the English statute mile, although the lengths eventually diverged.
Common Uses for versts and Roman miles
Explore the typical applications for both Versta (imperial/US) and Roman Mile (imperial/US) 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 Roman miles
- Historical Measurement: Used ubiquitously in the Roman Empire for all land distances.
- Historical Texts: Essential for understanding distances mentioned in Roman literature, historical accounts, and geographical works.
- Archaeology: Used to interpret Roman road networks, milestone placements, and site layouts.
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 Roman Mile (m.p.)
How long was a Roman Mile compared to a modern mile?
A Roman mile (approx. 1480 m) was shorter than the modern international statute mile (1609.344 m). A Roman mile is about 92% the length of a modern statute mile.
What does 'mille passus' mean?
It's Latin for "a thousand paces". Mille means thousand, and passus refers to the Roman pace (a double step of 5 Roman feet).
How many feet were in a Roman Mile?
There were 5,000 Roman feet (pedes) in one Roman mile.
Is the Roman Mile still used?
No, the Roman mile is obsolete and not used for any modern measurements. It is purely a historical unit. Modern distances are measured in kilometers or statute miles.
Conversion Table: Versta to Roman Mile
| Versta (versta) | Roman Mile (m.p.) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.721 |
| 5 | 3.604 |
| 10 | 7.208 |
| 25 | 18.02 |
| 50 | 36.041 |
| 100 | 72.081 |
| 500 | 360.405 |
| 1,000 | 720.811 |
All Length Conversions
Other Units from Length
- Meter (m)
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- Digit (digit)
- Cable Length (cb)
- Ell (ell)
- Finger (finger)
- 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)
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- Ri (Japanese) (ri)
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