Will vacationers be swimming in the Gulf of America this summer? If Donald Trump pursues the idea he mentioned during a press conference this week it could happen. This is not the first time a government official has considered renaming the Gulf of Mexico.
For over 400 years the 'Gulf of Mexico' has appeared on maps around the world. A well published use took place when Baptiste Boazio, the illustrator and map maker of Francis Drake's Caribbean cruise of attacks in the 1580s, used "Gulf of Mexico" on his map "View of Entire Route of Sir Francis Drake's West Indian Voyage."
Now the former and soon to be new President of the United States has introduced the idea of changing the body of water's name to the Gulf of America. Other lawmakers in the United States have actually considered this in the past. In 2012 a member of the Mississippi Legislature, Stephen Holland, once proposed a bill to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America" wherever the water touched the beaches of the US.
Map makers around the world might have some work to do. The International Hydrographic Organization, which controls the surveys for the world's seas, oceans and navigable waters, will need to make changes to it's official charting. They have over 100 member countries who have used their maritime measurements for over 100 years.
Some are saying the area north of a line between Havana, Cuba and the northeast border of Mexico is the area which should be renamed. Whether it is all of the gulf or a portion, the map makers and digital reference creators will be busy if the change is made. Google found over 77 million references in just 0.48 seconds.
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