Definition
Defined internationally as exactly 1852 metres. It originates from one minute of arc of a great circle on the earth, and because the earth is an oblate spheroid the length of a latitude minute varies from about 1843 metres at the equator to about 1862 metres at the poles. On a Mercator chart distance is therefore always measured on the latitude scale at the side of the chart, level with the area of interest, never on the longitude scale.
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