The "vara conuquera cuadrada" is another historical unit of land area measurement used in some Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in parts of Latin America. Like the "vara castellana cuadrada," it measures land area in square varas, but it is a regional variation and not part of the standard metric system.
The exact length of the "vara conuquera cuadrada" can vary by region, but it is generally close to 100 square varas, with each square vara having a specific length determined locally. The term "conuquera" is associated with the conuco, a type of small-scale agricultural plot traditionally used in some Latin American countries for subsistence farming.
As with other historical units of measurement, the use of the "vara conuquera cuadrada" is not standardized and is mostly a part of local customs and traditions. Official land measurements and land records in many Spanish-speaking countries have transitioned to more standardized systems, such as metric units, for land area measurements.
A township can have different meanings depending on the country and context in which it is used:
United States and Canada (North America): In North America, a township is a specific type of administrative division used in land survey systems. In the United States, townships are most commonly used in the Midwest and some other parts of the country. In Canada, townships are used primarily in the eastern provinces. These townships are typically a square area of land, typically six miles by six miles (36 square miles), or a similar configuration depending on the specific survey system used. Townships can be further divided into smaller units, such as sections, for land management and ownership purposes.
South Africa: In South Africa, a township refers to a residential area established during the apartheid era for non-white citizens. These areas were segregated from the main cities and towns and often experienced poor living conditions. Today, many townships have evolved and have improved living conditions, but the term is still associated with historically segregated communities.
Australia: In Australia, the term "township" is often used to refer to small rural towns or settlements. These are typically smaller than cities or larger towns and often serve as centers for local communities.