Google Maps will rename Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America, but only for US users
Yes, Google Maps is renaming the "Gulf of Mexico" to the "Gulf of America," but you won't see it when you open the app just yet. In a series of tweets, the News from Google account has revealed that the Maps app will roll out an update with the name change after the US government updates the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), which serves as the "federal and national standard for geographic nomenclature." Google Maps will also change the name of the highest mountain peak in North America from Denali, the name given to it by Alaskan Natives, to Mount McKinley when GNIS reflects its new official designation.
When that happens, we will update Google Maps in the U.S. quickly to show Mount McKinley and Gulf of America.— News from Google (@NewsFromGoogle) January 27, 2025
Google said it's a longstanding practice for the company to apply name changes in Maps only after they've been updated in official government resources. President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week to change the body of water's name, and the Interior Department announced on Friday that it's now officially known as the Gulf of America.
However, only users in the US will see it labeled as such. It will still be called the Gulf of Mexico for users in Mexico, while users from outside either country will see both names in their Google Maps app. Google said that another official longstanding practice is to show official local names when they vary between countries, and as Reuters notes, it has applied the rule to many other areas with naming and territorial disputes like the Sea of Japan. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/google-maps-will-rename-gulf-of-mexico-to-gulf-of-america-but-only-for-us-users-043726929.html?src=rss
Rating
Innovation
Pricing
Technology
Usability
We have discovered similar tools to what you are looking for. Check out our suggestions for similar AI tools.
Trump’s tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China could drive up prices of cars
<p>On Saturday evening, Trump signed executive orders to impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), with a White House <a data-i [...]
Google I/O 2025 recap: AI updates, Android XR, Google Beam and everything e
<p>Today is one of the most important days on the tech calendar as Google kicked off its I/O developer event with its annual keynote. As ever, the company had many updates for a wide range of pr [...]
Google Maps falsely told drivers in Germany that roads across the country w
<p>Chaos ensued on German roads this week after Google Maps wrongly informed drivers that highways throughout the country were closed during a busy holiday. Many of the apparently closed roads w [...]
