Persian Gulf A satellite image showing the Persian Gulf The Persian Gulf (Persian: خلیج فارس, Arabic: sometimes الخليج الفارسي Persian Gulf; sometimes الخليج العربي Arabian Gulf), is an extension of the Arabian Sea in between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. This inland sea of some 233,000 km² is connected to the Gulf of Oman in the east by the Strait of Hormuz, and its western end is marked by the major river delta of Arvand/Shatt al-Arab river, which carries the waters of the Euphrates and the Tigris. 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): United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar on a peninsula off the Saudi coast, Bahrain on an island, Kuwait and Iraq in the northwest, and Iran in the north. The Persian Gulf and its coastal areas are the largest single source of crude oil 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 Iraq-Iran War that lasted from 1980 to 1988, as with each side attacking the other's oil tankers. In 1991 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 Gulf War, despite the fact that this conflict did not focus primarily on the Persian Gulf. Naming Issues The name for this body of water was borrowed by numerous old languages (including Greek) as the "Persian Gulf" and has been in use everywhere since ancient times, for it signifies the first major nation-state in that area, namely the Persian Empire (now Iran). Up to 1960s this name was the only name in use throughout the world. But then, with the rise of Arab nationalism, Arab countries began to call the Persian Gulf, the "Arabian Gulf". While Persian Gulf is otherwise universally used, some (mostly the British media), use the term "the Gulf" to refer to this body of water. In the United States, Persian Gulf has been the only label sanctioned for U.S. government use since a decision by the State Department's Board of Geographical Names in 1917. In recent years, due to their increased cooperation with Arab states of the Persian Gulf, the various branches of the U.S. armed forces have issued directives for their members to use the term "Arabian Gulf" when operating in the area (Persian Gulf is still used in their official publications and websites). This has been done partly to appease their Arab allies, and partly because the use of "Persian Gulf" has been officially banned in some Arab countries. This is especially the case in the United Arab Emirates, where after the onset of the Iraq-Iran War, a government sympathetic to Saddam Hussein banned the use of this term in the country. This has also forced many American universities in the region to drop references to Persian Gulf in their teaching materials. See also Cradle of Humanity Persian Gulf States Deluge (prehistoric) External link Persian Gulf Online - Dedicated to preserving the history and ecology of the Persian Gulf Most Popular Articles: Music    Musical Instruments    Guitar    Classical Music    History    Music Definition    Country Music    Rock Music    Pop Music    Hip Hop    Rap    DJ    Video Games    Casino Games    Poker    Blackjack    Casinos    Real Estate    Loan    Auction    eBay    Marketing    Search Engine Optimization    File Sharing    MP3    Music Industry    Kazaa    Internet    Supermodel    Fashion    Fashion Designers    Erotica    Modeling    Clothing    Boots    Shoes    Diamond Engagement Rings    Diamond    Rugs    Gospel Music    Affiliate    E-Commerce    Radio This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License at http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html You may copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license. You must provide a link to http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html To view or edit this article at Wikipedia go to http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf