A "pole" is a unit of length that is equivalent to 16.5 feet or 5.0292 meters. It is sometimes referred to as a "rod" or a "perch," and these terms are often used interchangeably. Poles, like rods and perches, were historically used in some English-speaking countries, primarily in the United Kingdom and the United States, for land measurement, surveying, and real estate.
While the use of poles, rods, and perches has become less common in modern times, you may still encounter these units of length in certain contexts, especially in older land descriptions or surveys. In everyday measurements and official standards, more commonly used units like meters or feet are preferred.
A fathom is a unit of length used to measure the depth of water or the depth of objects underwater. In the international nautical mile system, one fathom is equal to exactly 1.8288 meters or approximately 6 feet. However, in the United States, the customary value for a fathom is often rounded to 6 feet.
Fathoms are commonly used in navigation, maritime activities, and underwater exploration to measure the depth of bodies of water, the draft of ships, and the depth of diving. Sailors, fishermen, and divers often use this unit to assess water depths.