Naming of features 
Most names in the gazetteer consist of two parts: a specific term and a generic term. The specific 
term is the name applied to a feature, while the generic term is descriptive of the feature. In the name 
Conway Ridge, for example, ‘‘Conway’”’ is the specific term and ‘‘Ridge’”’ is the generic term. Some names 
from non-English languages may have both of these terms combined in one word. 
BGN practices applied in the official standardization of the approved names in this gazetteer are 
listed below. These practices generally conform to those that, at time of publication, were under consid- 
eration by the United Nations and the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) as international 
standards. 
1. The Board will consider appropriate name proposals by United States nationals for undersea 
features in international waters. 
2. The Board will consider name proposals for features under United States territorial waters on the 
same basis as other domestic names. 
3. Prior to the naming of a feature, its character, extent and position shall be identified. Positions 
shall be given in terms of geographic coordinates. If it is necessary to refer to a feature before such 
full identification is established, it is suggested that the reference be by generic term and coordi- 
nates. In these cases, when the character is indefinite, (?) should follow the generic term, and 
when the position is indefinite, (PA), for ‘‘Position Approximate,’’ should follow the coordinates. 
4. Undersea names in the immediate vicinity of the coast of another country will be treated as 
names in that country. 
5. The Board will ordinarily approve names of undersea features beyond limits of the United States 
that are bestowed, or approved, by other countries or nationals of other countries unless there is 
some conflict or other question. Generics in English, if appropriate to the feature, will be accepted; 
those in other languages will be translated. 
6. Procedures for selection of specific terms: 
A. It is long-established BGN policy to favor short and simple names as the most efficient, other 
factors being equal. 
B. Specific terms in the names of major undersea features should indicate, if feasible, the general 
location of the area in which they lie, e.g., Mariana Trench, Ninetyeast Ridge. 
(1) In some cases, this can be accomplished simply by using the same specific term in the 
names of adjoining features, e.g., Aleutian Ridge, Aleutian Basin, Aleutian Trench, 
Mariana Ridge, Mariana Trench, Bellona Plateau, Bellona Reefs, Bellona Shoal. 
In some cases, the specific term may indicate direction from a large well-known associated 
feature, e.g., South Honshu Ridge, West Caroline Basin. 
(3) In cases where extent of a long linear feature needs to be identified and the extremities can 
be identified by named geographic features, the names of those features may be hyphen- 
ated as the specific terms, e.g., Azores-Gibraltar Ridge, Peru-Chile Trench. 
(4) Canyons, since they usually extend close to the shore, are normally given the names of 
rivers, points, or other readily identifiable named land features as specific terms, e.g., 
Hudson Canyon, Barrow Canyon, and Norfolk Canyon. 
(2 
SS 
C. Specific names for other features can commemorate ships, individuals, expeditions, and 
organizations and institutions involved in the study of the seas. However, commemoration is 
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