Length
| Unit | Relative value |
Metric value |
Imperial value |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| linja | 1/144 | ~2.06 mm | ~0.081 in | The width of barleycorn. |
| tuuma | 1/12 | ~24.74 mm | ~0.97 in | The width of thumb. Metrinen tuuma = 25 mm. |
| vaaksa | 1/2 | ~148.44 mm | ~5.84 in | The distance between the tips of little finger and thumb, when the fingers are fully extended. Today defined as 150 mm. |
| jalka | 1 | ~296.9 mm | ~11.68 in | The length of a human foot. |
| kyynärä | 2 | ~593.76 mm | ~1.94 ft | The distance from the elbow to the fingertips. The usual unit on measuring everyday lengths. Metrinen kyynärä = 500 mm. |
| syli | 6 | ~1.8 m | ~5.9 ft | Fathom; the distance between the fingertips of both hands when the arms are raised horizontally to the sides. In maritime, syli is 1/1000 of nautical mile (1.852 m). |
| vakomitta | 120 | ~213.6 m | ~700.78 ft | The furrow's length on field. |
| virsta | 600 | ~1068.84 m | ~0.66 mi | 2672 m (Swedish) 1068.84 m (Finnish). Related to the Russian verst. |
| peninkulma (old) | 3000 | ~5344.2 m | ~3.32 mi | Before year 1600 5 virsta; after 1600 10 virsta. The distance a barking dog can be heard in still air. |
| peninkulma (new) | 6000 | ~10.6884 km | ~6.64 mi | Before year 1600 5 virsta; after 1600 10 virsta. The distance a barking dog can be heard in still air. |
| päivämatka | 12,000 | ~20 km | ~12.42 mi | The distance of one day's travel. |
Read more about this topic: Finnish Units Of Measurement
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