kilomètre

Kilomètre is the unit of length in the metric system equal to one thousand meters. It is commonly used to express distances between cities and other geographical locations, as well as for measuring lengths that are too large to be conveniently expressed in meters. The symbol for kilometer is km.

The kilometer is a derived unit within the International System of Units (SI). It is derived from the base unit of length, the meter, by multiplying it by one thousand. This relationship makes it easy to convert between kilometers and meters: 1 km = 1000 m and 1 m = 0.001 km.

The concept of the kilometer originated in France in the late 18th century. The meter was originally defined as one ten-millionth of the distance from the North Pole to the Equator along the meridian passing through Paris. The kilometer, as one thousand meters, was thus established as a practical unit for everyday measurements and long-distance calculations.

In most countries around the world, the kilometer is the standard unit for measuring distance. It is widely used in transportation, geography, and everyday life. For example, speed limits on roads are often expressed in kilometers per hour (km/h). Road signs typically display distances in kilometers. In some countries, such as the United States, the imperial system of units is still predominantly used, where distances are measured in miles. However, even in these countries, kilometers are often understood and used in international contexts.