What Is Verst?
A verst is an old Russian unit for measuring distance. One verst is a little longer than one kilometer and a bit shorter than two thirds of a mile. Today it is not used in normal life, but it still appears in old books, maps, and history texts.
Definition
A verst is a traditional Russian length unit.
- 1 verst is about 1.0668 kilometers.
- 1 verst is about 1066.8 meters.
- 1 verst is about 0.6629 miles.
In old Russian measure, a verst was defined as 500 sazhen. A sazhen was another old Russian unit, close to the distance of a man spreading his arms wide.
History / Origin
The verst developed in Russia many centuries ago. It became a standard way to measure long distances such as roads and the space between towns.
The word verst comes from an old Slavic word that is linked to turning or a turning point on a road. In the past, posts were placed along roads to mark versts, a bit like mileposts in other countries.
By the 18th and 19th centuries the verst was the main distance unit in the Russian Empire. Maps, travel guides, and railway timetables often showed distances in versts.
After the Russian Revolution, the new government decided to use the metric system. Around 1918, official use of the verst ended and kilometers replaced it. However, people still met the word verst in older writings, songs, and stories.
Symbol & Abbreviation
The verst does not have one single modern symbol like km for kilometer, but several forms were used in the past.
- In Russian, old printed texts often used short forms based on the Russian word for verst.
- In English texts, people usually write the full word verst.
- Some writers use a short form like v or vrst in tables or notes.
Because the verst is no longer an official unit, there is no standard international symbol for it. When you use the verst in writing, it is safest to write the whole word verst to avoid confusion.
Current Use Around the World
Today, the verst is not used in daily life or in science. Most countries, including Russia, use the metric system with meters and kilometers.
The verst still appears in several places.
- History books. Many books about the Russian Empire mention distances in versts.
- Old maps. Historical maps of Russia and nearby lands often show a scale in versts.
- Literature. Russian novels, stories, and poems from the 18th and 19th centuries may describe long trips in versts.
- Research. Historians and geographers sometimes convert versts to kilometers to compare old and new data.
Modern road signs and official documents in Russia and other countries no longer use the verst.
Example Conversions
Below are some simple conversions between versts and common modern units. Values are rounded to make them easy to remember.
| Versts | Kilometers | Meters | Miles | Feet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 verst | ≈ 1.07 km | ≈ 1067 m | ≈ 0.66 mi | ≈ 3500 ft |
| 2 versts | ≈ 2.13 km | ≈ 2134 m | ≈ 1.33 mi | ≈ 7000 ft |
| 5 versts | ≈ 5.33 km | ≈ 5334 m | ≈ 3.31 mi | ≈ 17500 ft |
| 10 versts | ≈ 10.67 km | ≈ 10668 m | ≈ 6.63 mi | ≈ 35000 ft |
To convert from versts to kilometers, multiply the number of versts by about 1.0668.
To convert from versts to miles, multiply the number of versts by about 0.6629.
Related Units
The verst is linked to several other units of length.
- Sazhen. An old Russian length unit. 1 verst equals 500 sazhen.
- Arshin. A smaller Russian unit used for cloth and shorter lengths. Several arshin fit into one sazhen.
- Kilometer. The modern main unit for long distances in most countries. 1 verst is a little more than 1 kilometer.
- Mile. A common unit in the United States and a few other places. 1 verst is about two thirds of a mile.
- Meter. The base unit of length in the metric system. 1 verst equals about 1066.8 meters.
FAQs
Q. How long is one verst in kilometers
A. One verst is about 1.0668 kilometers. For simple use, you can remember it as a little more than 1.06 kilometers.
Q. How long is one verst in miles
A. One verst is about 0.6629 miles. You can think of it as roughly two thirds of a mile.
Q. Is the verst still used today
A. No, the verst is no longer used in daily life. Russia and most of the world now use meters and kilometers. The verst is mostly found in old texts and maps.
Q. Why did Russia stop using the verst
A. Russia changed to the metric system in the early 20th century. The metric system made trade, science, and communication with other countries easier, so the verst was replaced by the kilometer.
Q. How many versts are in one kilometer
A. One kilometer is about 0.94 verst. This means that a verst is slightly longer than a kilometer.
Q. What is the difference between a verst and a mile
A. A verst is smaller than a mile. One mile is about 1.51 versts, and one verst is about 0.66 miles.
Q. Where might I see versts mentioned
A. You might see versts mentioned in classic Russian literature, in old travel journals, in historical maps of Russia, and in research about the Russian Empire.
Q. How can I quickly estimate versts in kilometers
A. A quick method is to treat 1 verst as about 1.1 kilometers. For example, 5 versts is then about 5.5 kilometers. This is not exact but good for simple estimates.
