INTRODUCTION 



GENERAL 



The purpose of this gazetteer, hke earlier editions, is to provide a comprehensive reference for names 

 of undersea features on a world-wide basis. Users are strongly encouraged to refer to this source to determine 

 the correct names, as well as possible variant names, and location of features. 



This gazetteer, the fourth edition, contains approximately 6,700 names for undersea features of the 

 world. Of these names, 4,200 are jointly approved by the Board on Geographic Names (BGN) and the 

 Secretary of the Interior. The remaining 2,500 names are unapproved variants. The Board and the Secretary 

 are responsible for standardizing geographic feature names for Federal Government use. Research for this 

 publication was completed in July 1989. 



"Undersea features" are parts of the ocean floor or seabed that have measurable relief that can be 

 displayed by contours, or can be delimited by relief "images" such as produced by acoustic-imaging systems 

 of the GLORIA type. Acoustic images do not provide depths, however, and may not be appropriate for 

 naming undersea features which should be defined in terms of depth limits. Geographic names are not 

 approved for geological or geophysical features that have no surface expression, e.g., magnetic features. 



This gazetteer incorporates new names, changes to some older names, and other modifications approved 

 since the third edition (1981). The undersea feature names in this publication supersede those in all pre- 

 vious BGN Gazetteers or in other Defense Mapping Agency publications. 



To assure the gazetteer contains the most extensive possible list of standardized names, the Board 

 actively collaborates with scientists and researchers and their institutions in the United States and elsewhere. 

 Work with the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and its GEBCO Sub-Committee on Geo- 

 graphical Names and Nomenclature of Ocean Bottom Features is especially important. 



PERSONS ENGAGED IN RESEARCH OF UNDERSEA AREAS ARE URGED TO SUBMIT 

 PROPOSALS FOR NAMES OF NEW FEATURES TO THE BOARD ON GEOGRAPHIC NAMES 

 BEFORE PUBLISHING NAMES IN SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS. This procedure will help sure not only 

 uniformity and consistency of names but also the quality and value of cartographic products or articles 

 portraying them. The Board, through its Advisory Committee on Undersea Features (ACUF), will review 

 such names for approval as expeditiously as possible. If requested, proposers will be informed of approval action. 



