<p><strong>Since the mouth of this water body is actually very wide, why do we call it a Gulf?</strong></p>
<p><strong>What exactly is the difference between a Gulf and a Bay?</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/rLZmw.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/rLZmw.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-06T15:02:17.467Z
a gulf has a narrower opening than a bay this means that the gulf of alaska is a bay :) https://keydifferences.com/difference-between-bay-and-gulf.html
trond hansen
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-06T15:19:28.253Z
Not to be picky, but I think the Gulf of Alaska would be classified as a bight rather than a bay because of dimensions: https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/bay-bight-fjord-and-sound-similarities-and-differences-between-these-coastal-landforms.html
arkaia
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-06T15:45:39.080Z
This question is about language, not science. There are plenty of concepts that the English language has several words for. There is NO way to define these terms to make a meaningful distinction.
Spencer
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-07T09:04:14.093Z
It depends on the map projection you look at. On the one you posted it appears wide, but if you take a Mollweide projection for instance (or even worse, a sinusoidal projection), it will appear much narrower. ;)
Jean-Marie Prival
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-07T14:11:32.413Z
I personally think that these distinctions are important, fit the site, and definitely have a scientific base. The fact that historically the nomenclature has been used inconsistently doesn't mean that there isn't a scientific reason for them.
arkaia
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-07T14:11:42.353Z
Also for reference: https://www.waterencyclopedia.com/A-Bi/Bays-Gulfs-and-Straits.htm
arkaia
<oceanography><water><land-surface><land>
Why is the Gulf of Alaska not a Bay? What is the difference between a Gulf and a Bay?
nSack
# Why is the Gulf of Alaska not a Bay? What is the difference between a Gulf and a Bay?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-03-06)

**Since the mouth of this water body is actually very wide, why do we call it a Gulf?**

**What exactly is the difference between a Gulf and a Bay?**

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/rLZmw.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/rLZmw.png)

**Tags:** oceanography, water, land-surface, land

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: a gulf has a narrower opening than a bay this means that the gulf of alaska is a bay :) https://keydifferences.com/difference-between-bay-and-gulf.html  
> **username_2**: Not to be picky, but I think the Gulf of Alaska would be classified as a bight rather than a bay because of dimensions: https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/bay-bight-fjord-and-sound-similarities-and-differences-between-these-coastal-landforms.html  
> **username_3**: This question is about language, not science. There are plenty of concepts that the English language has several words for. There is NO way to define these terms to make a meaningful distinction.  
> **username_4**: It depends on the map projection you look at. On the one you posted it appears wide, but if you take a Mollweide projection for instance (or even worse, a sinusoidal projection), it will appear much narrower. ;)  
> **username_2**: I personally think that these distinctions are important, fit the site, and definitely have a scientific base. The fact that historically the nomenclature has been used inconsistently doesn't mean that there isn't a scientific reason for them.  
> **username_2**: Also for reference: https://www.waterencyclopedia.com/A-Bi/Bays-Gulfs-and-Straits.htm  

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