Google Maps has renamed Lake Ontario 'Lake America' for Americans
Google Maps has updated its U.S. interface to label Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' following an executive order by President Trump. The change reflects the U.S. government's official database, though it is not recognized by Canadian authorities.
Why it matters
This reflects the intersection of digital mapping, geopolitical tensions, and trade disputes between the U.S. and Canada.
Google Maps said it changed the name of Lake Ontario to "Lake America" after the US Geographic Names Information System, the federal government's official database of place names, did the same. Bloomberg/Getty Images Google Maps now shows "Lake America" to US users after Trump ordered the name change. Canadian users will still see "Lake Ontario," while others will see both names. MapQuest went viral for refusing to change the name, while Apple Maps still says "Lake Ontario." Google Maps has made the switch — for Americans, at least. A search on the mapping app on Sunday shows the name "Lake America" for the body of water adjoining northern New York and southern Ontario, known until very recently — and still to most — as Lake Ontario. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday that he said would "immediately" rename the body of water to "Lake America."
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