Link
A link is a traditional unit of length used primarily in land surveying. It is defined as exactly 7.92 inches or approximately 20.1168 centimeters.
The link originated from Gunter's chain, a 66-foot measuring device introduced in 1620 by English mathematician Edmund Gunter. This chain was divided into 100 equal parts, each measuring one link. The link became a standard unit in English-speaking countries for surveying and land measurement.
Key Facts:
1 link = 7.92 inches
1 link ≈ 20.1168 cm
25 links = 1 rod (16.5 feet)
100 links = 1 chain (66 feet)
1,000 links = 1 furlong (660 feet)
While the link has largely fallen out of general use, it remains a part of historical surveying practices and is still referenced in some legal and cadastral documents.
Vara Conuquera
The vara conuquera is a traditional Spanish unit of length used historically in some parts of Spain and Spanish America, especially in land measurement. It is a regional variation of the vara, which generally measures around 33 inches (about 0.84 meters), but the vara conuquera specifically is associated with the unit used for measuring conucos—small agricultural plots or gardens.
The length of the vara conuquera could vary locally but was typically similar to or a fraction of the standard vara. It was used primarily in rural land surveying and agriculture to define plots and land boundaries.
Summary:
Vara conuquera: a regional variant of the vara
Approximately 0.83 to 0.84 meters (varied by region)
Used historically for measuring small agricultural plots (conucos)
Common in Spanish and Latin American land measurement contexts
Today, the vara conuquera is mostly of historical interest, reflecting old land measurement traditions.