View a markdown version of this page

Localization and internationalization - Amazon Location Service

Localization and internationalization

Amazon Location Service supports localization features that enable you to customize maps for specific languages and regions. This includes support for local place names and the ability to render maps in different languages.

Style Political View Languages
Standard Argentina, Brazil, Cyprus, Egypt, Georgia, Greece, India, Israel, Kenya, Morocco, Palestine, Serbia, Russia, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Türkiye, Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Vietnam Supported through client-side library
Monochrome Argentina, Brazil, Cyprus, Egypt, Georgia, Greece, India, Israel, Kenya, Morocco, Palestine, Serbia, Russia, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Türkiye, Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Vietnam Supported through client-side library
Hybrid Argentina, Brazil, Cyprus, Egypt, Georgia, Greece, India, Israel, Kenya, Morocco, Palestine, Serbia, Russia, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Türkiye, Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Vietnam Supported through client-side library
Satellite Not supported Not supported

Languages

Amazon Location Service provides Maps APIs that enable you to customize the language of map labels and text elements. This capability helps your applications cater to a global audience or regions with multiple languages. By displaying maps in the user's preferred language, you enhance the overall user experience, making the maps more accessible and relevant to your diverse user base.

For more information, see How to set a preferred language for a map.

Animated demonstration of the Amazon Location Service language switcher, cycling through map labels in different languages on a map of Taiwan.

Political view

By default, Amazon Location Service presents an international perspective, which visually represents disputed territories with dashed borders. To switch from the international perspective to a country-specific geopolitical view, use the political view parameter in your API query. This helps businesses comply with local laws, as certain countries require adherence to their specific geopolitical views for maps and map data.

In addition to the default international perspective, Amazon Location Service supports the geopolitical views of the following countries: Argentina, Brazil, Cyprus, Egypt, Georgia, Greece, India, Israel, Kenya, Morocco, Palestine, Serbia, Russia, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Türkiye, Tanzania, United States, Uruguay, Vietnam. To activate a geopolitical view, pass the appropriate value to the political view parameter.

The following table lists the political view values that are currently available, and the perspective that each one applies.

Political view value

Description

ARG

Argentina's view on the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and Tierra Del Fuego, including the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and South Sandwich Islands

BRA

Brazil's view on Rincon de Artigas in the Brazil/Uruguay dispute

EGY

Egypt's view on Bir Tawil

IND

India's view on Gilgit-Baltistan

ISR

Israel's view on the West Bank and Gaza Strip

KEN

Kenya's view on the Ilemi Triangle

MAR

Morocco's view on Western Sahara

PSE

Palestine's view on the West Bank and Gaza Strip

RUS

Russia's view on Crimea

SDN

Sudan's view on the Halaib Triangle

SRB

Serbia's view on Kosovo, Vukovar, and Sarengrad Islands

SUR

Suriname's view on the Courantyne Headwaters and Lawa Headwaters

SYR

Syria's view on the Golan Heights

TUR

Türkiye's view on Cyprus and Northern Cyprus

TZA

Tanzania's view on Lake Malawi

URY

Uruguay's view on Rincon de Artigas in the Brazil/Uruguay dispute

USA

United States' names for Lake Ontario and the Gulf of Mexico

VNM

Vietnam's view on the Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands

For more information, see How to set the political view of a map.

Two maps of Cyprus demonstrating Amazon Location Service political view options, showing how disputed territorial boundaries render differently based on country-specific perspectives.