Key facts
- Google Maps has renamed Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' for US users.
- The change follows a US executive order by President Donald Trump and an update to the US Geographic Names Information System.
- Canadian users will continue to see 'Lake Ontario' on Google Maps.
- The renaming is linked to trade disputes and retaliatory tariffs between the US and Canada.
- Google Maps also renamed the Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America' per a similar executive order.
Google Maps has officially renamed Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' for users in the United States, aligning with a recent executive order signed by President Donald Trump. The mapping service stated it updated its system after the US Geographic Names Information System, the federal government's official database for place names, made the same change.
This renaming is part of a broader trade dispute between the US and Canada. President Trump's administration imposed significant tariffs on Canadian goods, prompting retaliatory measures from Canada. The decision to rename the lake is seen as a retaliatory move by the US. Canadian officials have indicated they will not recognize the new name, and Canadian users of Google Maps will continue to see 'Lake Ontario.' Users in other parts of the world will see both names displayed.
Other mapping services have had different responses. Apple Maps still lists the body of water as 'Lake Ontario.' MapQuest, an earlier online mapping service, publicly stated it would not change the name and invited users to name it as they pleased.
Mark Carney, a Canadian official involved in trade negotiations, highlighted the historical significance of the name 'Lake Ontario,' which derives from a Wendat word meaning 'the lake is beautiful, the lake is big.' President Trump has previously renamed the Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America' as part of an effort to use names that he believes honor 'American greatness,' a change also reflected on Google Maps.