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).
A league is a unit of length that has been used historically in various cultures to measure distance, especially over land or at sea. The length of a league can vary from one region to another, and its value has changed over time.
In most cases, a league is roughly equivalent to 3 miles or approximately 4.828 kilometers. However, the exact value of a league has varied in different historical contexts and regions. For example:
Marine League: In nautical terms, a league is often considered to be equivalent to 3 nautical miles, which is approximately 5.556 kilometers. This is commonly used for measuring distances at sea.
Spanish League: In Spain and some Spanish-speaking countries, the league historically referred to the "legua," which was usually defined as 5,000 varas. The vara is an old Spanish unit of length, and the actual length of a Spanish league could vary by region. It was typically around 4.18 miles or 6.73 kilometers.
French League: In France, the league (or "lieue" in French) was historically used, and its length could vary from region to region. One French league is roughly equivalent to 4 kilometers (about 2.49 miles).
Historical Leagues: In various historical contexts and regions, leagues were used as a convenient way to measure distances over land. These leagues often had different values depending on local custom and geography.
It's important to note that the use of leagues as a unit of measurement has largely been replaced by the more standardized metric system in modern times. Therefore, leagues are not commonly used for precise measurements today but may still appear in historical documents, literature, or discussions of older measurements.