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| The '''Persian Gulf''' (]: خلیج فارس, ]: الخليج الفارسي), is an extension of the ] in between the ] and ]. This inland sea of some 233,000 km² is connected to the Gulf of Oman in the east by the ], and its western end is marked by the major ] of ] river, which carries the waters of the ] and the ]. Its length is 989 kilometres separating mainly Iran from Saudi Arabia with the shortest divide of about 56 kilometres in the Strait of Hormuz.. | |||
| Countries with a coastline on the Persian Gulf are (clockwise, from the southeast): ], ], ] on a ] off the Saudi coast, ] on an island, ] and ] in the northwest, and ] in the north. The Persian Gulf and its coastal areas are the largest single source of ] and related industries dominate the region. Various small islands lie within the Gulf and some are contested between neighbouring states. | |||
| The Persian Gulf was among the scenes of the ] that lasted from ] to ], as with each side attacking the other's ]s. In ] the Persian Gulf again was the background for a Persian Gulf War as Iraq invaded Kuwait and was subsequently pushed back during what is now predominantly known as the ], despite the fact that this conflict did not focus primarily on the Persian Gulf. | |||
| == Naming Issues == | |||
| In most modern international treaties, documents and maps this body of water is almost universally known under the name "Persian Gulf", reflecting the geopolitical realities of the time with a powerful ] (today ]) comprising the whole northern coastline. But by the late 1960's and with the rise of ], some Arab countries started to use "Arabian Gulf" to refer to this waterway. This coupled with the decreasing influence of Iran on the political and economic priorities of the English speaking Western World led to increasing acceptance in business and regional politics of the alternative naming convention "Arabian Gulf", and sometimes "the Gulf". | |||
| This is particularly confusing, because at least until the end of the 19th century, "Arabian Gulf" was used to refer to what is now known as the ]. This usage was adopted into Europeans maps from, among others, ] and ] who called the Red Sea, "Sinus Arabicus" (i.e. Arabian Gulf). Both of these Greek scholars reserved "Persian Gulf" to refer to the body of water between Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Similarly, most European maps from the early Modern Times onwards use "Sinus Persicus", "Persischer Golf", "Golfo di Persia" and the like when referring to the Persian Gulf. | |||
| The matter remains very contentious, in particular as the competing naming conventions are supported by respective governments, in internal literature, but also in dealings with other states and international organizations. | |||
| The ] on many occasions has requested that only Persian Gulf be used as the standard geographical designation for that body of water. Most recently the UN secretariat has issued two editorial directives in ] and ] affirming the position of this organization on this matter. | |||
| In the ], "Persian Gulf" has been the label sanctioned for U.S. government use since a decision by the ]'s ] in ]. This decision is still valid. In recent years, due to increased cooperation with Arab ], various branches of the ] have issued directives to their members to use the "Arabian Gulf" when operating in the area (Persian Gulf is still used in official publications and websites), partially to follow local conventions, to avoid upset or simply to follow local laws that ban the use of Persian Gulf, e.g. in the ]. Also for similar reasons, branches of American universities in the region have also dropped references to Persian Gulf in their teaching materials. | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| ==External link== | |||
| * , Dedicated to preserving the history and ecology of the Persian Gulf | |||
| * , a very successful ] about the naming issue | |||
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