Convert Vara de Tarea (vara de tarea) to Furlong (fur) instantly.
About these units
Vara de Tarea (vara de tarea)
The Vara de Tarea is a Spanish-derived unit of length historically used in Latin America, approximately 0.8359 meters. It was commonly employed for land measurement, especially in the context of agricultural plots, or "tareas," which were standard land divisions for farming and tax purposes. The unit reflects the broader Spanish colonial influence in the Americas, where local adaptations often resulted in slight variations of the original metric equivalent depending on the region. Farmers, surveyors, and colonial administrators relied on the Vara de Tarea to measure property, organize irrigation systems, and define communal lands. Although largely obsolete today due to metrication, the Vara de Tarea remains significant for interpreting historical land deeds, colonial documents, and regional agricultural practices. Understanding it provides insight into land management and local economies in historical Spanish America.
Furlong (fur)
A furlong, equal to 10 chains or 660 feet, originated as the distance a team of oxen could plow before needing rest. Its name derives from "furrow-long," indicating the length of a typical plowed furrow in medieval agriculture. This agricultural basis linked the furlong to the acre: a rectangle one furlong long and one chain wide equaled one acre in area. Today, the furlong is most notably used in horse racing, where race distances are often measured in furlongs rather than miles. This tradition reflects both the unit's historical importance and its suitability for describing moderate distances. While archaic in most contexts, the furlong remains a culturally iconic measure that connects modern sports to medieval agricultural practices.