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 However, the use of the chain as a standard unit of measurement has largely been replaced by the more modern and standardized metric and imperial systems, which use units like meters, feet, and yards.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.
"Vara de tarea" is a term that can be translated from Spanish to mean "task pole" or "work pole." In some Spanish-speaking regions, particularly in Mexico and parts of Central America, "vara de tarea" is a traditional unit of length used to measure land.
The length of a "vara de tarea" can vary by region, but it is typically around 4 meters (approximately 13.1 feet) or slightly longer. It was historically used for land measurement, especially in rural and agricultural areas, to define property boundaries and land plots for farming or other tasks.
It's important to note that "vara de tarea" is a localized and regional unit of measurement and may not be widely recognized or used in other Spanish-speaking countries or regions. The use of standardized metric or imperial units is more common in modern times.