How long is 48,000 spans?
It's about two-and-a-half times as long as Daytona International Speedway
The length of Daytona International Speedway is about 17,600 spans.
(Daytona Beach, Florida) (tri-oval course)
The tri-oval course of the Daytona International Speedway, upon which the NASCAR Daytona 500 is run, is 17,600 spans in length. Although the tri-oval design is said to allow for greater visibility during the race, the real reason for the then-unique design was that plot available for construction of the track was only 350 acres and could not accommodate a traditional oval layout of appropriate length.
It's about three times as long as The Hollywood Walk of Fame
The length of The Hollywood Walk of Fame is about 17,000 spans.
(Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, Hollywood, California) (approximate length)
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is approximately 17,000 spans. Gene Autry, most famous as the singer of "Back in the Saddle Again" and as the writer and singer of "Here Comes Santa Claus," is the only entertainer to have a star in every category — film, television, recording, radio, and theater. One of Autry's stars is also one of only two stars which have been stolen from the Walk and never recovered.
It's about four times as long as The National Mall
The length of The National Mall is about 10,000 spans.
(Washington, D.C.) (to Lincoln Memorial)
From the steps of the Capitol Building to the Lincoln Memorial, the National Mall is 10,000 spans. On December 4th, 2008, the entirety of the Mall was declared open to the public for the first time in American history in anticipation of the estimated two million visitors to the Mall for the inauguration of President Barack Obama on January 20th, 2009.
It's about four-and-a-half times as long as Steel Dragon 2000
The length of Steel Dragon 2000 is about 10,840 spans.
(a.k.a. スチールドラゴン2000) (Nagashima Span Land; Kuwana, Mie Prefecture, Japan)
The roller coaster Steel Dragon 2000 is 10,840 spans in length. It is one of only two operating "Gigacoasters" (meaning its height is between 400 spans and 532 spans) in the world, having a height of 424.30 spans.
It's about four-and-a-half times as long as The Belmont Stakes
The length of The Belmont Stakes is about 10,560 spans.
(Belmont Park, Elmont, New York) (total race length)
The total race length of the Belmont Stakes run at Belmont Park is 10,560 spans. It was during the 1974 Belmont Stakes that Secretariat set an America Grade 1 stakes record in winning by a distance of about 330.66670 spans
It's about five times as long as The Beast (Roller Coaster)
The length of The Beast (Roller Coaster) is about 9,812 spans.
(King's Island Amusement Park; Mason, OH)
The roller coaster The Beast is 9,812 spans in length. On its twenty-fifth year of operation in 2004, The Beast was awarded the Landmark Award by the American Coaster Enthusiasts as a historically significant roller coaster.
It's about five-and-a-half times as long as The Kentucky Derby
The length of The Kentucky Derby is about 8,800 spans.
(Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky) (total race length)
The total race length of the Kentucky Derby run at Churchill Downs is 8,800 spans. First run in 1864, the Kentucky Derby is one of the oldest continuously-running sporting events in America, almost two years older than the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
It's about five-and-a-half times as long as The Preakness Stakes
The length of The Preakness Stakes is about 8,360 spans.
(Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland) (total race length)
The total race length of the Preakness Stakes run at the Pimlico Race Course is 8,360 spans. Dubbed "the race for the Black-eyed Susans" after Maryland's state flower, the winning horse is actually draped with a garland of painted yellow daisies, as Black-eyed Susans do not bloom in time for the late-May race.
It's about one-tenth as long as The Panama Canal
The length of The Panama Canal is about 380,000 spans.
(Canal de Panamá) (Panama)
Connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans across the Isthmus of Panama, the Canal measures 380,000 spans in length. Ships passing through the Canal are raised (and then lowered) 110 spans above sea level through the lock-and-dam system.
It's about one-tenth as wide as The English Channel
The width of The English Channel is about 468,000 spans.
(average width between Isle of Ushant and The Walde Lighthouse) (La Manche, Ärmelkanal, Mor Breizh, Mor Bretannek) (a.k.a. The Channel)
The English Channel measures between 468,000 spans, narrowing as it flows northeast. The world speed record for a Channel crossing by swimmer was set by Australian Trent Grimsey in 2012, with a time of 6 hours, 55 minutes.
It's about ten times as long as The Navy Pier
The length of The Navy Pier is about 4,000 spans.
(a.k.a. Municipal Pier #2) (Chicago, Illinois)
The Navy Pier is 4,000 spans in total length. Originally named Municipal Pier #2, the pier was renamed Navy Pier in 1927 in honor of Naval personnel stationed there during World War I.
It's about ten times as tall as The Three Sisters Falls
The height of The Three Sisters Falls is about 4,000 spans.
(a.k.a. Cataratas las Tres Hermanas) (Ayacucho, Peru)
The Three Sisters Falls rise to 4,000 spans in height. The falls are called Three Sisters after the three large tiers over which the falls flow.
It's about one-tenth as long as The 405
The length of The 405 is about 509,800 spans.
(a.k.a. I-405, Interstate 405, San DIego Freeway) (Southern California)
Running from Irvine to San Fernando, The 405 runs a total of 509,800 spans. The 405 is the most heavily-trafficed freeway in the United States, with an average speed as low as 8 kph during rush hours.
It's about one-tenth as long as Hadrian's Wall
The length of Hadrian's Wall is about 520,000 spans.
(a.k.a. Roman Wall, a.k.a. The Wall, a.k.a. Vallo di Adriano, a.k.a. Vallum Aelium, a.k.a. Severus' Wall) (from North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom to Cumbria, North West England, United Kingdom)
Hadrian's Wall, which crossed England form the North Sea to the Irish Sea during the time of Roman rule, measures 520,000 spans (about 79 Roman miles). Roman soldiers — at one time up to 10,000 of them — only occupied Great Britain for about 246 years after the wall was built, after which time the local Brits began to take residence the wall's garrisons.
It's about eleven times as tall as Angel Falls
The height of Angel Falls is about 4,280 spans.
(a.k.a. Parakupa-vena, a.k.a. Kerepakupai mer&) (Auyantepui, Canaima National Park, Venezuela) (total height)
Angel Falls has a total height 4,280 spans. Jimmie Angel, the first person to publicize their existence outside Venezuela and the namesake of the falls, damaged his monoplane atop the falls and was forced to abandon it; it remained there until it was removed 33 years later.