Google Maps Changes Lake Label Amidst Renaming Row

Google Maps has caused controversy after changing the label for Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' for users in the US, according to Alphabet Inc. The decision was made due to a change in the official US government geographic naming system.

The lake spans the border between the US and Canada, one of the Great Lakes. This change has been met with resistance from New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who stated that New York state would not use the new name 'Lake America'.

Users in Canada will still see Lake Ontario labeled as such, while the rest of the world will display both names.

This update follows Alphabet's long-standing policy for bodies of water with names that vary from country to country. MapQuest has also announced it will not change the name 'Lake Ontario' in its products.