Google has changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America” for people who use its Maps platform within the United States.
In Pakistan, both names appear on Google maps.
According to Google, in the US, the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) has officially updated the name.
“As we announced two weeks ago and consistent with our longstanding practices, we have begun rolling out changes to reflect this update. People using Maps in the US will see ‘Gulf of America’, and people in Mexico will see ‘Gulf of Mexico’. Everyone else will see both names”, added Google.
An example of this practice is the Sea of Japan, or the East Sea, the name of which has been in dispute between Japan and South Korea. In Google Maps, the sea is designated as the Sea of Japan (East Sea).
Mount Denali in Alaska is also getting a name change. It is being officially renamed to Mount McKinley. Google said the change will be implemented “quickly” once the names system is updated.
Trump’s order regarding Gulf of Mexico
President Donald Trump signed these directives regarding Mexico and Mount Denali in January.
“A short time from now, we will be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and we will be restoring the name of a great president, William McKinley, to Mount McKinley, where it should be and where it belongs,” Trump stated in his inauguation speech.
