In a move that has sparked both praise and criticism, Google has announced that it will be updating its Maps app to reflect name changes to two significant geographical features in North America. The tech giant has confirmed that it will be renaming the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America” and Denali, the highest peak in North America, to “Mount McKinley”.

The decision comes after the US government issued updates to the names of these geographical features. Google has stated that it will implement these changes in its Maps app to ensure consistency and accuracy.

The name change from Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America has been met with mixed reactions. Some have welcomed the change, seeing it as a way to emphasize the gulf’s connection to the United States. Others have expressed concerns that the change could be seen as an attempt to erase the cultural and historical significance of the name “Gulf of Mexico”.

Similarly, the decision to rename Denali to Mount McKinley has been met with opposition from some quarters. Denali is the Athabascan word for “the great one”, and the name change is seen as a nod to the indigenous people of Alaska. However, some have argued that the name Mount McKinley is more widely recognized and should be retained.

Google’s decision to update its Maps app to reflect these name changes has sparked a wider debate about the importance of geographical names and their cultural significance. While some see the changes as a necessary step towards accuracy and consistency, others argue that they could have unintended consequences.

As the updates are rolled out, users of the Google Maps app will begin to see the new names reflected in the app. However, it remains to be seen how the changes will be received by the wider public and whether they will have a lasting impact on the way we think about these geographical features.