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Finnish system
In Finland, approximate measures derived from body parts and were used for a long time, some being later standardised for the purpose of commerce. Some Swedish, and later some Russian units have also been used.
- vaaksa – The distance between the tips of little finger and thumb, when the fingers are fully extended. Today defined as 150 mm.
- kyynärä – (c. 60 cm) The distance from the elbow to the fingertips. Metrinen kyynärä = 500 mm.
- syli – Fathom, (c. 180 cm) the distance between the fingertips of both hands when the arms are raised horizontally on the sides. In maritime, syli is 1/1000th of nautical mile (1.852 m)
- virsta – 2672 m (Swedish) 1068.84 m (Finnish)
- peninkulma – (c. 10 km) The distance a barking dog can be heard in still air. Equals 10 virsta.
- poronkusema – (c. 7.5 km) The distance a reindeer walks between two spots it urinates on. This unit originates from Lapland.
- leiviskä – (8.5004 kg): metrinen leiviskä = 10 kg
- kappa – (5.4961 l) Still in use (rectified as exactly 5 liters) at market places to measure potatoes.
- tynnyrinala – (4936.5 m) The area (of field) that could be sown with one barrel of grain.
- kannu – (2,6172 l)
- kortteli – Used for both length (14.845 cm) and volume (3.2715 dl).