As the crow flies
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"As the crow flies" is a colloquial term used to describe the most direct route between two points on the Earth. It is most often used to differentiate distance along this route from that along a less direct route, such as a road or railroad, and is generally the same as the great circle route. Some people use the variation "by the crow flies".
An example would be the distance between Key West and Pensacola, at the two opposite ends of Florida, in the United States. The most direct route by road is about 792 miles (1,275 kilometers); but a measurement directly across the Gulf of Mexico is only 524 miles (843 kilometers)[1]—as the crow flies.
As the Crow Flies (origin) - When lost or unsure of their position in coastal waters, ships would release a caged crow. The crow would fly straight towards the nearest land thus giving the vessel some sort of a navigational fix. The tallest lookout platform on a ship came to be know as the crow's nest. [2]
