Google renames the Persian Gulf

Network World ^ | Feb 15, 2008

[John Jorsett]

Turns out Google already had another cartographic controversy on its hands.

Earlier this week we learned of an Israeli city's slander lawsuit against the search giant based upon Google's refusal to remove a user-generated Google Earth notation that identifies the community of Kiryat Yam as Arab Ghawarina. A Google spokesperson told me that the notation violated no aspect of the company's terms of use agreement, no matter how much it violated the sensibilities of Kiryat Yam officials.

In this second controversy, however, Google does not have the "We didn't do it" card at its disposal. That's because Google itself has renamed the Persian Gulf.

They can do that?

Mother Jones blogger Justin Elliott explains:

The problem comes in the form of a letter to Google's CEO from the National Iranian American Council loudly protesting the inclusion in Google Earth of the term "Arabian Gulf" - along with the more common "Persian Gulf."

Only a few years ago, in 2004, Google's co-founders told shareholders that "focused objectivity" was a trait "most important in Google's past success" and "most fundamental for its future." But that was before Google Earth. And if the two complaints this month show anything, it's that a map is a highly subjective thing. Including "Arabian Gulf" was a classic hedge on Google's part, probably an attempt to strive for that ideal of objectivity. NIAC's letter, however, explains the term's somewhat untoward history:

You can read that letter here.

The group says that the National Geographic Society "made the same error" in 2004 and willingly corrected itself after NIAC complained.

Google has yet to reply to inquiries from Mother Jones.

Perhaps the programmers behind Google Earth should just pretend that the Middle East has dropped off the map altogether. Drastic, yes, but their lives would be made so much simpler.

[ASA Vet]

How about "Persian Sea?" Is that OK with the NIAC?

[GATOR NAVY]

The military has been calling it the Arabian Gulf for a while now. Pisses off the Iranians. Some other sources I have seen have gone to just calling it The Gulf.

[SampleMan]

There are so many waters that have different names to different people. The Sea of Japan is an example, which I believe has four official names.

[netmilsmom]

Well hellsbells, I think they need to rename Lake Huron, Netmilsmom Lake! In fact, I’m going to claim Tawas City as well. I love it there.

[Hazwaste]

How about “Sea of Iranian Dinghies”?

[KarlInOhio]

Microsoft had a similar problem back when their timezone selector highlighted the timezone selected on a world map. The Indians or Pakistanis (or both) were pissed off about where the border between the countries and their timezones were put in Kashmir. MS just stopped highlighting on the map in the next verson.

[Allegra]

I like that map. It gives Iraq some nice beachfront property on both coasts.

I'm off to get some suntan lotion...

[Greg F]

Let’s call it the “Gulf of American Victory.”

[Fiji Hill]

Arabs refer to it as the Arabian or Arab Gulf (al-khalīj-al-Arabi).

[Allegra]

The military has been calling it the Arabian Gulf for a while now. Pisses off the Iranians. Some other sources I have seen have gone to just calling it The Gulf.

Iraqis call it the Arabian Gulf. And Kuwaitis jokingly call it the Kuwaiti Gulf....just to annoy the Iranians.

[Tallguy]

I think “Sea of Netmilsmom” has a better ring to it, how about you? Think big!

[SampleMan]

I believe the Italians simply call the Mediterranean “Our Sea”. During the time of the Roman Empire, that would have been hard to argue with.

[Fiji Hill]

There are so many waters that have different names to different people. The Sea of Japan is an example, which I believe has four official names.

There's a body of water in northern Israel that has at least three names--Lake Tiberias, Lake Kinneret, and the Sea of Galilee.

[KarlInOhio]

I see that Google still has the Gulf of the United States on our southern coast misnamed. :-).

[Joe 6-pack]

"Well hellsbells, I think they need to rename Lake Huron, Netmilsmom Lake!"

I've heard of it. I think it's just southeast of the big lake they call gitchagoomee.

[Greg F]

“Gulf of Mohammed the False Prophet.”

[Cacique]

I am curious, we in South America were always taught that the river separating Mexico from the US is the Rio Bravo, while Americans call it the Rio Grande. Wonder how Google names the river since south of the border it’s simply Bravo.

[Abathar]

Tawas city? Great fishing there. I always stayed in Oscoda, then went either South to Tawas or North to Greenbush. They had a great bar there just off of 23, I think it was called the Greenbush Inn. Spent many a salmon fishing weekend holed up there....

[John Jorsett]

I am curious, we in South America were always taught that the river separating Mexico from the US is the Rio Bravo, while Americans call it the Rio Grande.

I can't find a label for it at all in Google Earth.