Versta (versta) - Unit Information & Conversion

Symbol:versta
Plural:versts
Category:Length

What is a Versta?

Definition

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)

History

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.

Common Uses

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.

Unit FAQs

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).

Versta Conversion Formulas

To Meter:

1 versta = 1066.8 m
Example: 5 versts = 5334 meters

To Kilometer:

1 versta = 1.0668 km
Example: 5 versts = 5.334 kilometers

To Hectometer:

1 versta = 10.668 hm
Example: 5 versts = 53.34 hectometers

To Decimeter:

1 versta = 10668 dm
Example: 5 versts = 53340 decimeters

To Centimeter:

1 versta = 106680 cm
Example: 5 versts = 533400 centimeters

To Millimeter:

1 versta = 1066800 mm
Example: 5 versts = 5334000 millimeters

To Inch:

1 versta = 42000 in
Example: 5 versts = 210000 inches

To Foot:

1 versta = 3500 ft
Example: 5 versts = 17500 feet

To Yard:

1 versta = 1166.666667 yd
Example: 5 versts = 5833.333333 yards

To Mile:

1 versta = 0.662879 mi
Example: 5 versts = 3.314394 miles

To Nautical Mile:

1 versta = 0.576026 NM
Example: 5 versts = 2.88013 nautical miles

To Micrometer:

1 versta = 1066800000 μm
Example: 5 versts = 5334000000 micrometers

To Nanometer:

1 versta = 1066799999999.9999 nm
Example: 5 versts = 5334000000000 nanometers

To Light Year:

1 versta = 1.1276e-13 ly
Example: 5 versts = 5.6379e-13 light years

To Astronomical Unit:

1 versta = 7.1310e-9 AU
Example: 5 versts = 3.5655e-8 astronomical units

To Parsec:

1 versta = 3.4572e-14 pc
Example: 5 versts = 1.7286e-13 parsecs

To Angstrom:

1 versta = 10668000000000 Å
Example: 5 versts = 53340000000000 angstroms

To Point (Typography):

1 versta = 3023998.095119 pt
Example: 5 versts = 15119990.475597 points

To Mil/Thou:

1 versta = 42000000 mil
Example: 5 versts = 210000000 mils

To Fathom:

1 versta = 583.333333 fath
Example: 5 versts = 2916.666667 fathoms

To Furlong:

1 versta = 5.30303 fur
Example: 5 versts = 26.515152 furlongs

To Link (Gunter's):

1 versta = 5303.030303 li
Example: 5 versts = 26515.151515 links

To Pace:

1 versta = 1400 pace
Example: 5 versts = 7000 paces

To Span:

1 versta = 4666.666667 span
Example: 5 versts = 23333.333333 spans

To Digit:

1 versta = 56000 digit
Example: 5 versts = 280000 digits

To Cable Length:

1 versta = 5.760259 cb
Example: 5 versts = 28.801296 cable lengths

To Ell:

1 versta = 933.333333 ell
Example: 5 versts = 4666.666667 ells

To Finger:

1 versta = 9333.333333 finger
Example: 5 versts = 46666.666667 fingers

To Roman Mile:

1 versta = 0.720811 m.p.
Example: 5 versts = 3.604054 Roman miles

To Stadion:

1 versta = 5.766486 stadion
Example: 5 versts = 28.832432 stadia

To Chi (Chinese):

1 versta = 3200.720072 chi
Example: 5 versts = 16003.60036 chi

To Shaku (Japanese):

1 versta = 3520.792079 shaku
Example: 5 versts = 17603.960396 shaku

To Li (Chinese):

1 versta = 2.1336 li
Example: 5 versts = 10.668 li

To Toise:

1 versta = 547.357619 toise
Example: 5 versts = 2736.788096 toise

To Bolt:

1 versta = 35 bolt
Example: 5 versts = 175 bolts

To Rope:

1 versta = 175 rope
Example: 5 versts = 875 ropes

To Smoot:

1 versta = 626.865672 smoot
Example: 5 versts = 3134.328358 smoots

To Sajene:

1 versta = 500 sajene
Example: 5 versts = 2500 sajenes

To Ken:

1 versta = 586.79868 ken
Example: 5 versts = 2933.993399 ken

To Wa:

1 versta = 533.4 wa
Example: 5 versts = 2667 wa

To Vara:

1 versta = 1272.727273 vara
Example: 5 versts = 6363.636364 varas

To Aln:

1 versta = 1795.959596 aln
Example: 5 versts = 8979.79798 alnar

To Cubit (Royal/Egyptian):

1 versta = 2039.770554 cubit
Example: 5 versts = 10198.852772 cubits

To Arpent:

1 versta = 18.244942 arpent
Example: 5 versts = 91.22471 arpents

To Ri (Japanese):

1 versta = 0.271658 ri
Example: 5 versts = 1.358289 ri

To Klafter:

1 versta = 562.509887 klafter
Example: 5 versts = 2812.549433 klafter

To Yojana:

1 versta = 0.079022 yojana
Example: 5 versts = 0.395111 yojanas

To Skein:

1 versta = 9.722222 skein
Example: 5 versts = 48.611111 skeins

Convert Versta

Need to convert Versta to other length units? Use our conversion tool.