A chain is a unit of length used in some older systems of measurement, particularly in surveying and land measurement. In the United States, one chain is equal to 66 feet or 22 yards. Internationally, it's defined as exactly 20.1168 meters.
Chains were historically used for measuring large plots of land and for surveying purposes, often in agriculture and real estate. However, the use of the chain as a standard unit of measurement has largely been replaced by the more modern and standardized metric and imperial systems, which use units like meters, feet, and yards.
The term "chain" comes from the practice of physically measuring land using a chain made of linked metal bars or wire. Each chain was typically 66 feet long, and surveyors would lay out chains end to end to measure distances across large areas. Today, modern surveying equipment such as electronic distance measuring devices (EDMs) and GPS technology have largely replaced the use of physical chains in land surveying.
There isn't a widely accepted international standard for a "nautical league." The nautical mile (nmi) is the more common and internationally recognized unit of measurement for distances at sea. A nautical mile is approximately equal to one minute of latitude along a meridian, and it is used worldwide for maritime and aviation navigation.
In some regions, historical or localized variations of the league may have been used in the past, but these are not part of the modern international system of measurement. It's important to note that such variations can differ by country and even within different historical periods.
For precise and internationally recognized measurements in maritime and aviation contexts, the nautical mile is the preferred unit of distance. One nautical mile is equal to approximately 1.852 kilometers or 1.15078 statute miles (land miles).