Chilean units of measurement explained
A number of different units of measurement were used in Chile to measure quantities like length, mass, area, capacity, etc. From 1848, the metric system has been compulsory in Chile.[1] [2]
Pre-metric units
Spanish customary units were used before 1848.[3]
Length
To measure length several units were used. Legally, one vara is equal to 0.836 m. Some of the units and their legal values as follows:[4]
- 1 línea = vara
- 1 pulgada = vara
- 1 pie = vara
- 1 cuadra = 150 vara
- 1 legua = 5400 vara
Mass
Several units were used to measure mass. One libra is equal to 0.460093 kg. Some other units are given below:
- 1 grano = libra
- 1 adarme = libra
- 1 Spanish; Castilian: sastellano = libra
- 1 onza = libra
- 1 arroba = 25 libra
- 1 quintal = 100 libra
Capacity
Mainly two systems, dry and liquid, were used to measure capacity in Chile.
Dry
One almud was equal to 8.083 L. 12 almud were equal to one fanega.
Liquid
One cuartillo was equal to 1.111 L. 32 cuartillo were equal to one arroba.
Notes and References
- Book: Washburn, E.W.. International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology. McGraw-Hil Book Company, Inc. 1926. New York. 4.
- Book: Cardarelli, F.. Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins.. limited. Springer. 2003. 978-1-4471-1122-1. London. 7.
- Book: Clarke, F.W.. Weights Measures and Money of All Nations. D. Appleton & Company . 1891. New York. 23.
- Book: Cardarelli, F.. Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins.. limited. Springer. 2003. 978-1-4471-1122-1. London. 162, 163.
