The digital landscape of maps, particularly when exploring regions like Mexico, has recently seen an intriguing shift for users in the United States. Google Maps, a ubiquitous tool for navigation and geographical exploration, has updated the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” for its US-based users. This change, while seemingly straightforward, has sparked international debate and raised questions about geographical naming conventions in the digital age.
Google has stated that this alteration is part of their “longstanding practice” to align with official government-recognized name updates. They referenced the Geographic Names Information System, a US government database, as the source for this change. According to Google, this modification is specifically for users within the United States. For those accessing Google Maps from Mexico, the name remains “Gulf of Mexico,” and for users in other parts of the world, the label appears as “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America).”
This decision follows an executive order reportedly from President Donald Trump, who, after returning to office, directed the renaming of the body of water in US government documents. The US government’s listing on the Geographic Names Information System now officially describes it as: “The Gulf of America, formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico…bordered and nearly landlocked by North America with the Gulf’s eastern, northern, and northwestern shores in the U.S. and its southwestern and southern shores in Mexico.” This change is purportedly in line with an executive order aiming to “restore names that honor American Greatness.” Furthermore, a “Gulf of America Day” was proclaimed on February 9th by the US administration, further solidifying the symbolic weight behind this renaming.
A detailed bathymetric map showing the Gulf of Mexico and its surrounding coastlines, relevant for users exploring maps of Mexico and the region.
However, this renaming has not been without significant controversy, particularly drawing criticism from Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum formally requested Google to reconsider this alteration. President Sheinbaum argued that the United States does not possess the legal authority to unilaterally change the name of the Gulf of Mexico. She cited the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which stipulates that a nation’s sovereign territory extends only 12 nautical miles from its coastline, implying the renaming oversteps international norms and agreements concerning larger geographical entities like the Gulf.
Apple Maps has also mirrored Google’s move, adopting “Gulf of America” for US users, with reports suggesting a global rollout of this change in their mapping service in the future. This unified approach from major digital mapping platforms underscores a potential shift in how geographical names are perceived and presented in digital cartography, at least within the United States.
The Associated Press (AP), a globally recognized media organization, has chosen not to adopt the “Gulf of America” designation in its style guide. This decision is significant as the AP style guide is widely followed by US media outlets, indicating a divergence between governmental and tech-driven nomenclature changes and established journalistic standards. The White House reportedly responded to the AP’s decision by barring an AP reporter from covering an executive order signing, highlighting the sensitivity and political implications surrounding this name change. The AP defended its journalistic independence, stating that limiting access based on speech content violates the First Amendment.
Beyond the Gulf of Mexico, the same executive order also sought to revert the name of Denali, North America’s highest peak, back to Mount McKinley – its previous designation. While this change is not yet reflected on Google Maps, the AP has adopted Mount McKinley in its style guide, showing a consistent stance on reverting to prior names in certain geographical contexts.
Interestingly, Google has also made changes to its default calendar events, removing references to various holidays and cultural events like Pride and Black History Month, which previously appeared automatically. Google explained this as a move towards scalability and sustainability, opting to display only public holidays and national observances globally from a third-party source, while allowing users to manually add other significant events.
In conclusion, the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on Google Maps for US users is a multifaceted issue. It reflects a political decision by the US government, a tech company’s adherence to official name sources, and a point of contention with international implications, particularly with Mexico. For users relying on Maps Of Mexico and the Gulf region, this update necessitates an awareness of differing geographical names and perspectives, depending on their location and map service settings. The ongoing situation underscores the dynamic nature of digital mapping and the intersection of technology, politics, and geographical identity.
