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# distances

The system of measurement that displays on the map.

```
distances?: DistanceUnitSystem;
```

## Discussion

Sets the system of measurement for displaying map distances. See [`DistanceUnitSystem`](/documentation/MapKitJS/DistanceUnitSystem) for accepted values.

This property applies to the scale, if it displays. The default value is [`Adaptive`](/documentation/MapKitJS/DistanceUnitSystem/Adaptive), which means that the measurement system depends on the map’s set [`language`](/documentation/MapKitJS/MapKitInitializationOptions/language). This property affects displayed distances only; it doesn’t affect data that returns from a service, such as [`Directions`](/documentation/MapKitJS/Directions).

---

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