Just days before taking office as President of the United States, Donald Trump made a peculiar proposal that has caused controversy: to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America.”
In a press conference from Mar-a-Lago, the president-elect reiterated his request to the governments of Mexico and Canada to stop the illegal entry of migrants into the United States. He also took the opportunity to threaten to change the name of the gulf.
Why does Donald Trump want to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico?
According to the president-elect, the name change is appropriate because it encompasses U.S. territory.
“We do most of the work, so we will change the name from Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America, which is a beautiful and very appropriate name,” he said.
Shortly after his statement, Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene announced that she would present a bill as soon as possible to make the name change official.
The proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico was not the only one. Trump also issued warnings to other countries, including Panama, demanding that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States.
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What is a gulf?
A gulf is a large marine area surrounded by land on almost all sides, and it generally does not contain islands. Gulfs can vary considerably in size, shape, and depth.
Why is it called the Gulf of Mexico?
Although the gulf is also bordered by the United States and Cuba, it was Mexico that played a crucial role in its geographical designation. The Gulf of Mexico takes its name from the wide Mexican coast that surrounds it. During the conquest era, Spanish explorers named this body of water in honor of the territory we now know as Mexico, which was one of the most significant in the region at the time.
This gulf, which connects to the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, is a clear example of a gulf that holds great economic and geopolitical relevance in the area.
What was the Gulf of Mexico called before?
Until the early 19th century, the Gulf of Mexico was known as the Mexican Bay or Mexican Gulf.
What characteristics does the Gulf of Mexico have?
It hosts a remarkable variety of marine and coastal habitats, both tropical and temperate. Among them are estuaries, soft-bottom areas in shallow waters, rocky bottoms, reef communities, and vast areas of deep sea, home to a rich diversity of living marine resources. Its total area spans 1.623 million square kilometers.
Which countries are in the Gulf of Mexico?
The Gulf of Mexico is a semi-open sea that belongs to the Greater Caribbean region. It is recognized as the largest sheltered water basin in the Atlantic Ocean and is divided between Mexico, the United States, and Cuba.
What is the largest gulf in the world?
It is the Bengal Bay, located in the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. Its shores span countries such as Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, and its surface area reaches 2,172,000 km², often leading it to be considered a sea rather than a gulf.
What is the difference between a Gulf and an Ocean?
An ocean is a vast expanse of salty water that separates continents, while a gulf is a deep inlet of the sea almost entirely surrounded by land, with a narrower opening. The main difference is that an ocean is immense and not limited by land, while a gulf is surrounded by large landmasses.
