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Fathom (US Survey)

The fathom (US survey) is a unit of length used in U.S. surveying and nautical contexts, defined as exactly 6 US survey feet. Since one US survey foot is approximately 0.3048006096 meters, the US survey fathom measures about 1.828804 meters.

Like the international fathom, it is primarily used to measure water depths and underwater distances in marine navigation and surveying.

Key details:

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  1 US survey fathom = 6 US survey feet

  
  
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  1 US survey fathom ≈ 1.828804 meters

  
  
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  1 fathom = 2 yards

  
  

Though the difference between the US survey fathom and the international fathom is very small, the US survey units are being phased out in favor of international standards, but they still appear in some legal and historical surveying documents.

Fathom

A fathom is a unit of length traditionally used to measure the depth of water. It equals 6 feet or approximately 1.8288 meters.

Originating from the Old English word fæðm, meaning "to embrace" or "outstretched arms," the fathom was based on the average distance between a person's outstretched arms. It has been widely used by sailors and navigators to estimate sea depths and underwater distances.

Key facts:

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  1 fathom = 6 feet

  
  
• 
  

  1 fathom ≈ 1.8288 meters

  
  
• 
  

  1 fathom = 2 yards

  
  

Though modern sonar and electronic instruments now measure depth more precisely, the fathom remains a traditional unit in nautical contexts, especially in maritime charts and historical references.