The nautical mile equals 1852 meters exactly — defined as one minute of arc along a meridian. It is the standard distance unit for marine and air navigation worldwide. Ship and aircraft speeds are given in knots, where 1 knot = 1 nautical mile per hour.
Real-world: Territorial waters extend 12 nautical miles from the coastline. London Heathrow to New York JFK is about 3000 nmi.
Read full nautical mile reference →The statute mile equals 1609.344 meters exactly since the 1959 international definition. It is the official road unit in the United States, United Kingdom and Myanmar. The name comes from the Latin "mille passuum" — one thousand Roman paces. The nautical mile (1852 m) is different and used only in marine and air navigation.
Real-world: London to Edinburgh is about 400 miles by road. A marathon is 26.22 miles. US highways typically post 65–75 mph speed limits.
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