Convert Kilometers to Miles
Kilometers
Definition: The kilometer (symbol: km) is a unit of length equal to 1 000 meters. It is a decimal multiple of the meter, forming part of the metric system.
History/Origin: Adopted in 1795 during the development of the metric system in France as a convenient larger multiple of the meter for longer distances.
Current Use: Widely used worldwide to measure geographic distances, road lengths, and large-scale dimensions.
Miles
Definition: The mile (symbol: mi) is an Imperial and U.S. customary unit of length equal to 1 609.344 meters.
History/Origin: Derived from the Roman 'mille passus' meaning 'a thousand paces', standardized in England in 1593 as 1 760 yards, and later internationally fixed at 1 609.344 meters in 1959.
Current Use: Primarily used in the United States and the United Kingdom to measure road distances and land boundaries.