verst

The verst is an old Russian unit of distance that was widely used in Russia and neighboring regions before the adoption of the metric system. The standard length of one verst is 1.0668 kilometers, or 1,066.8 meters. It is defined as 500 sazhen, with one sazhen approximately 2.1336 meters. In older texts it is common to see 1 versta described in relation to arshin and vershok, the smaller traditional units that make up the sazhen.

Historically, the verst was used for everyday measurements of travel and distance on maps, road signs, and in gazetteers throughout the Russian Empire. Distances between towns and stations were often recorded in versts, making the unit a familiar reference for travelers and officials. The length of the sazhen—and thus the verst—could vary somewhat in premodern practice, but a standardized form, especially in imperial administration, settled on the 500 sazhen definition in most official contexts.

In modern times, the verst is no longer an official unit in Russia or in other countries that formerly used it. It has been largely superseded by the kilometer and the metric system. Today, the verst appears mainly in historical writings, literature, and discussions of old maps, as well as in some toponyms or cultural references that preserve traditional measurements.

See also: historical units of length, Russian customary units, metrication.