ELI5 Nautical Miles - why are they different from the regular mile?

We explain the fascinating concept of nautical miles, an essential unit for navigating our oceans. What exactly is a nautical mile, and how does it relate to the way we navigate? How does a nautical mile differ from the standard road mile we’re used to, and why does this difference matter for sailors and pilots? What practical advantages does using nautical miles provide in terms of ease of navigation, especially when using coordinates and charts?

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: throwawayoregon12, nephroidofdoom, asscrap69, carlfazu, kalyugikangaroo, and keizzer.

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