Geographic Names of Undersea Features

The practice of assigning geographical names to undersea features on the bottom of the World Ocean and standardization of terms and names at the national and international levels are discussed. The development of underwater research technology, an increase in the number of sea expeditions, and the implementation of international projects—all this contributes to new discoveries. As for the Russian discoverers, their priority is enshrined in the names of more than 300 mountains, ridges, faults, and other undersea features of the World Ocean, included in the State Register of Geographical Names of the Russian Federation and the International Dictionary of Geographic Names (Gazetteer) of the General Bathymetric Ocean Chart (GEBCO). In the opinion of the authors of this article, it is necessary to intensify the work on collecting and approving names, many of which are recorded so far only in expedition reports and articles; to create national dictionaries, including regional ones; and to make wider use of Russian names in international publications.