Convert Aln (aln) to Nautical League (Int) (nl (int)) instantly.
About these units
Aln (aln)
The aln was a traditional Swedish unit of length equal to roughly 59.4 cm, though its exact value varied slightly by region and period. It belongs to the broader family of "ell" measurements used across Europe, originally based on the length of a human forearm. The aln played a crucial role in Swedish commerce, especially in the textile industry, where cloth was measured by stretching it along standardized rods or boards marked in aln lengths. Because such goods were often woven locally and traded regionally, the aln helped regulate and unify commercial practices before the adoption of the metric system. Although obsolete today, the aln survives in historical texts, architectural references, and Scandinavian museum records. Understanding the aln helps scholars interpret pre-modern construction records, land measurements, and traditional clothing industries, revealing a great deal about everyday life in early Sweden.
Nautical League (Int) (nl (int))
The international nautical league is defined as 3 international nautical miles, or 5,556 meters. It simplifies the expression of moderately large maritime distances by grouping nautical miles into a more manageable larger unit. Because nautical miles relate directly to Earth's geometry, the nautical league also maintains a connection to latitude and longitude. While not widely used in modern navigation—pilots and mariners typically stick to nautical miles and knots—nautical leagues still appear in older literature, historical accounts of sea voyages, and some naval traditions. They offer narrative convenience when describing long journeys without resorting to extremely large numbers. The unit highlights the tendency of sailors to create practical, scaled units that simplify communication during long-distance travel.