Google has officially announced that it will change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on its map application Google Maps.
Google announced on its blog and social media X on the 10th local time that it will change the name of Gulf of Mexico to the United States only.
Google explained that the move follows a long-standing practice that has followed official government nominations. Google Maps uses nominations provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The USGS has already changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the United States only in accordance with U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order. The Gulf of Mexico is the name that covers the waters between the southern United States and Mexico.
Earlier on the 20th of last month, President Trump signed an executive order to change the Gulf of Mexico to the United States alone and Mount Denali, Alaska’s highest peak in North America, to Mount McKinley. On the 9th, President Trump declared this day (February 9) as “Gulf of America Day” while visiting New Orleans, Louisiana, on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, to watch the NFL Finals Super Bowl.
As Google follows the Trump administration’s nomination change policy, from now on, Google Maps users in the U.S. will see the name of the U.S. only changed instead of the Gulf of Mexico. Denali-san was also renamed McKinley-san on Google Maps.
However, users who access from Mexico will see the “Mexico Bay” as before. The name “Mexico Bay” appears for users outside of the U.S. and Mexico. Currently, the Korean version of Google Maps lists the waters as “Mexico Bay” (American Bay).
JENNIFER KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
