At about Mile 102 you can see Dellenbaugh Butte, which is also known as The Anvil, or Inkwell Butte. Powell camped here July 14, 1869. The majority of the butte is composed of the Summerville Formation.
How can I name an unnamed natural feature?
Proposals to name an unnamed feature within the United States and its territories may be submitted to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN). However, proposals must include a compelling reason the feature needs to be named for federal use.
The BGN is responsible by law (43 USC Ch. 11A) for standardizing geographic names throughout the Federal Government and has developed policies governing issues such as commemorative naming, derogatory and offensive names, names in wilderness areas, long names, commercial names, and animal names. The BGN will consider proposals to name officially unnamed natural geographic features, unincorporated populated places, canals, channels, and reservoirs.
Please note that no feature can be named for or in reference to a living person. Any person or persons that a proposed name refers to must have been deceased for at least five years and must have had either a direct and long-term association with the feature or must have made notable civic contributions. Any proposal for a name that refers to the name of a family must include at least one person who meets the criteria.
The primary naming principle is based on present day local usage and acceptance. When a proposal that meets the minimum requirements for consideration by the BGN is submitted, all interested parties will be invited to provide input. The BGN will make decisions only after considering recommendations from Tribal, county, and local governments, the State Names Authorities and Advisors, and relevant land management agencies.
For guidance please read the Instructions for Geographic Names Proposal Submissions and refer to the Domestic Names Committee (DNC) Proposal Process Flowchart. There is no cost to submit a proposal and the length of time to complete the review process can vary from 6 months to over a year. For more information, contact BGNEXEC@usgs.gov.
Learn more: Guidance on Name Proposals
Related
What is the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)? What is the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)?
The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN), which maintains cooperative working relationships with State Names Authorities to standardize geographic names for Federal use. GNIS contains information about the official names for places, features, and areas in the 50 states, the...
How can I propose a name change for a natural feature? How can I propose a name change for a natural feature?
Proposals to change the name of a feature within the United States and its territories may be submitted to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN). However, proposals must include a compelling reason the feature’s name needs to be changed for federal use. Changing an existing name merely to correct or re-establish historical usage should not be a primary reason to change a name. The BGN is...
How do I report an error in the Geographic Names Information System database? How do I report an error in the Geographic Names Information System database?
Please report possible errors in the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) database to the GNIS Manager at tnm_help@usgs.gov. The Names data experts will investigate and validate the data, enter appropriate corrections where needed, and advise you of the results. Learn more: Geographic Names FAQs
Does the Geographic Names Information System database contain entries for obsolete names and geographic features that no longer exist? Does the Geographic Names Information System database contain entries for obsolete names and geographic features that no longer exist?
Yes, the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) includes features that no longer exist and names that are no longer used. If a feature no longer exists on the landscape, or the name has fallen out of use, the entry is marked “historical”. The designation “historical” has no reference to age, size, condition, extent of habitation, type of use, or any other factor. Examples of historical...
How can I acquire or download Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) data? How can I acquire or download Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) data?
Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) data is available for download via the U.S. Board on Geographic Names website. You can also download names using a query in Search Domestic Names. GNIS includes official names, their location attributes, variant names, and other data, which can be displayed, printed, and downloaded (in csv format) up to a maximum of 2,000 records. GNIS data can also be...
Does Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) include manmade and administrative features, such as churches, cemeteries, parks, schools, shopping centers, trails? Does Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) include manmade and administrative features, such as churches, cemeteries, parks, schools, shopping centers, trails?
No. GNIS does not include roads, highways, administrative, or cultural features, except for canals, channels, reservoirs, communities, civil divisions, and military features. In 2021 the following geographic features, referred to as “administrative” (cultural or man-made), were removed from GNIS: airport, bridge, building, cemetery, church, dam, forest, harbor, hospital, mine, oilfield, park, post...
Dellenbaugh Butte along Green River
At about Mile 102 you can see Dellenbaugh Butte, which is also known as The Anvil, or Inkwell Butte. Powell camped here July 14, 1869. The majority of the butte is composed of the Summerville Formation.
Delicate Arch
The world-famous Delicate Arch was formed by the movement of underground salt beds beneath overlying sandstone, in concert with surface events including water, ice, and erosion, which washed away or broke off the sandstone to create the arches and fins found throughout Arches National Park.
The world-famous Delicate Arch was formed by the movement of underground salt beds beneath overlying sandstone, in concert with surface events including water, ice, and erosion, which washed away or broke off the sandstone to create the arches and fins found throughout Arches National Park.
Related
What is the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)? What is the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)?
The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN), which maintains cooperative working relationships with State Names Authorities to standardize geographic names for Federal use. GNIS contains information about the official names for places, features, and areas in the 50 states, the...
How can I propose a name change for a natural feature? How can I propose a name change for a natural feature?
Proposals to change the name of a feature within the United States and its territories may be submitted to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN). However, proposals must include a compelling reason the feature’s name needs to be changed for federal use. Changing an existing name merely to correct or re-establish historical usage should not be a primary reason to change a name. The BGN is...
How do I report an error in the Geographic Names Information System database? How do I report an error in the Geographic Names Information System database?
Please report possible errors in the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) database to the GNIS Manager at tnm_help@usgs.gov. The Names data experts will investigate and validate the data, enter appropriate corrections where needed, and advise you of the results. Learn more: Geographic Names FAQs
Does the Geographic Names Information System database contain entries for obsolete names and geographic features that no longer exist? Does the Geographic Names Information System database contain entries for obsolete names and geographic features that no longer exist?
Yes, the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) includes features that no longer exist and names that are no longer used. If a feature no longer exists on the landscape, or the name has fallen out of use, the entry is marked “historical”. The designation “historical” has no reference to age, size, condition, extent of habitation, type of use, or any other factor. Examples of historical...
How can I acquire or download Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) data? How can I acquire or download Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) data?
Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) data is available for download via the U.S. Board on Geographic Names website. You can also download names using a query in Search Domestic Names. GNIS includes official names, their location attributes, variant names, and other data, which can be displayed, printed, and downloaded (in csv format) up to a maximum of 2,000 records. GNIS data can also be...
Does Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) include manmade and administrative features, such as churches, cemeteries, parks, schools, shopping centers, trails? Does Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) include manmade and administrative features, such as churches, cemeteries, parks, schools, shopping centers, trails?
No. GNIS does not include roads, highways, administrative, or cultural features, except for canals, channels, reservoirs, communities, civil divisions, and military features. In 2021 the following geographic features, referred to as “administrative” (cultural or man-made), were removed from GNIS: airport, bridge, building, cemetery, church, dam, forest, harbor, hospital, mine, oilfield, park, post...
Dellenbaugh Butte along Green River
At about Mile 102 you can see Dellenbaugh Butte, which is also known as The Anvil, or Inkwell Butte. Powell camped here July 14, 1869. The majority of the butte is composed of the Summerville Formation.
At about Mile 102 you can see Dellenbaugh Butte, which is also known as The Anvil, or Inkwell Butte. Powell camped here July 14, 1869. The majority of the butte is composed of the Summerville Formation.
Delicate Arch
The world-famous Delicate Arch was formed by the movement of underground salt beds beneath overlying sandstone, in concert with surface events including water, ice, and erosion, which washed away or broke off the sandstone to create the arches and fins found throughout Arches National Park.
The world-famous Delicate Arch was formed by the movement of underground salt beds beneath overlying sandstone, in concert with surface events including water, ice, and erosion, which washed away or broke off the sandstone to create the arches and fins found throughout Arches National Park.
Updated Date: May 7, 2026