[Geysers] Feature names in general

[Ron Keam]

In New Zealand, one thing I have noticed is that Maori names for 
geothermal surface features survive without modification better than 
English names.  This is probably because people assume that a Maori 
name has been given by Maori people and therefore one would be 
sensitive to a possible cultural indiscretion by trying to alter it. 
For that reason both Ted Lloyd and I have applied Maori names to sets 
of features where no names appear already to exist for them.  In 
recent years I have also taken the precaution of checking with an 
appropriate respected Maori person to ensure that the mooted names 
are acceptable.  The Maori names chosen have sometimes reflected some 
aspect of the geographic setting, and as an example, two vents 
aligned East-West within a craterlet in Frying Pan Lake were named 
"Pouata" and "Mapouriki", meaning, respectively, "Dawn" and "Dusk". 
Sometimes I have seen features named most inappropriately - for 
example, in 1963, the New Zealand Tourist and Publicity Department 
celebrated the opening of a new track at Waimangu by providing names 
for many features.  I found one name, "The Devil's Ulcers", 
particularly objectionable.  I have assiduously avoided using it and 
I hope it never surfaces again except in a posting like this as a 
source of derision.

I do not know what the situation would be in the U.S., but would 
people consider using Native American names to be apppropriate?

Ron Keam
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Ron Keam
The Physics Department
The University of Auckland
Private Bag 92-019
Auckland
New Zealand
Phone +64 9 373-7599 extension 87931
FAX +64 9 373-7445
EMail r.keam at auckland.ac.nz
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