Nautical Miles Explained
Why mariners use nautical miles and how they relate to latitude and charts.
Author: OceanCalc Editorial Team · Publisher: Albor Digital LLC
A nautical mile is 1,852 meters, or approximately one minute of latitude. So 60 nautical miles equal one degree of latitude. This makes chart work simple: distance on the chart (using the latitude scale) matches distance in the real world. Nautical miles are used worldwide for marine and aviation navigation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you measure distance on a nautical chart?
Use the latitude scale on the sides of the chart. One minute of latitude equals one nautical mile. For longer distances, use the scale or a divider to compare with the latitude scale.