----------------------------Original message---------------------------- >----------------------------Original message---------------------------- >Hello, I find this question interesting and under the title of political >bias when it comes to map place names. There are many examples on world >and national maps of this bias. I think the name should be Persian Gulf >since that is the way it has been for awhile, and I know the British >starting using the name The Gulf 15 years ago. Some maps use both Persian >Gulf and Arabian Gulf. Ernie Woodson, SUNY Buffalo > The US Board on Geographic Names relies heavily on local usage when deciding on the official name of a feature. My understanding is that people in the "Persian Gulf" area refer to that body of water as "Arabian Gulf," this coming from an Iranian student of mine. We as Americans have the habit of imposing our ways on the rest of the world. This simple name is an example. The name should be Arabian Gulf because that is what the people in that area call it. Paul Larson _________________________________ Paul R. Larson. Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Geography Physical Science Department Southern Utah University Cedar City, Utah 84720 tel: (801) 865-8244 fax: (801) 865-8051 E-mail: [log in to unmask] __________________________________