The "metric system", which was adopted by 17 countries in 1875 by signing a treaty, is the basis for all hollow measures used worldwide today (Table 1). In addition, very old gauges are still in use (Table 2). The Anglo-American measurement systems are almost only used in the USA, England and some other countries (Table 3). The ancient Roman gauges are included under the term congius.
Only the USA, Myanmar and Liberia have not yet adopted the metric system, although it is used in practice by the latter two. One litre of water weighs exactly one kilogram (kg) and has a volume of 1 dm³ at a temperature of 3.98 °C and an air pressure of 1013.25 hPa (hectopascal).
As honorary chairman of the Domäne Wachau, it is the easiest and quickest way for me to access the wein.plus encyclopaedia when I have questions. The certainty of receiving well-founded and up-to-date information here makes it an indispensable guide.
Hans-Georg Schwarz
Ehrenobmann der Domäne Wachau (Wachau)