Mile to Fathom Converter

A mile is a unit of length commonly used in the United States and United Kingdom, equal to 5,280 feet or approximately 1.609 kilometers. The statute mile is the most common variant.

The mile originated from the Roman 'mille passus' meaning 'thousand paces', approximately 5,000 Roman feet. The English mile evolved through various definitions until the statute mile of 5,280 feet was standardized in 1593 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Miles are primarily used in the United States, United Kingdom, and a few other countries for road distances, speed measurements (mph), and in aviation (nautical miles). They remain the standard for highway signs, odometers, and speed limits in these countries.

A fathom is a unit of length primarily used for measuring the depth of water, equal to 6 feet or approximately 1.83 meters. It represents the span of a person's outstretched arms.

The fathom derives from the Old English 'fæthm' meaning 'outstretched arms' or 'embrace'. It was originally based on the distance between the fingertips of a person's outstretched arms, typically about 6 feet. It has been used for measuring water depth since ancient times.

Fathoms are still used in some maritime contexts for measuring water depth, particularly in traditional sailing and fishing communities. However, meters are increasingly preferred for official nautical charts and modern navigation systems.