Verstap

Verstap is a unit of length in the Russian imperial system. It is equal to 500 sazhen, with a sazhen being approximately 7 feet or 2.13 meters. Therefore, a verstap is roughly equivalent to 3,500 feet or 1,067 meters, or slightly more than half a mile. The verst was widely used in Russia for measuring distances, particularly along roads and railways, before the adoption of the metric system. Its usage declined significantly after the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, and it is now largely obsolete. The term "verstap" itself is derived from the Old East Slavic word "верста" (versta), which also denoted this unit of distance. In some contexts, particularly in historical literature or geographical descriptions from pre-metric Russia, the verst can still be encountered. Its primary historical significance lies in its role in the development of Russian infrastructure and cartography.