Apple Renames Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' for US Users
Apple's Maps app has changed the name of Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' for US users, following President Donald Trump's executive order. The change was made in response to the president's escalating trade war with Canada.
Last week, Trump directed the Interior Department to update the lake's name in the US geographic naming service. This is not the first time Trump has moved to rename a body of water spanning beyond US borders; last year, he ordered that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America.
Google Maps also updated its labels for Lake Ontario over the weekend, citing Trump's order and its long-standing policy of using names assigned by the US Geographic Names Information System. However, not all map providers have followed suit: MapQuest has refused to change the lake's label and is instead allowing users to name it whatever they want through a separate online tool.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter. The change has been met with skepticism by Canadian officials, who point out that the name Lake Ontario predates both the Canadian Confederation and US Declaration of Independence.