I suggest that reading any publication on Fractals will give a good reason why you cannot meaningfully measure the length of a coastline! Coastlines are fractal (that is, self-similar at all scales) and so measuring the length depends on the scale at which you measure it. The larger the scale, the longer the length. Mandelbrot's original publication gives an admirable explanation of this.
Paul Cooper
>>> [log in to unmask] 04 February 2003 11:42:02 >>>
Now here is something to keep you thinking over lunch.
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I am trying to find out the length of the European & African
coastlines.
If you are unable to provide this information could you please
suggest another contact or web site which may be helpful.
Regards
Gail Newman
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Ken Atherton
British Cartographic Society
Administration
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