Google Maps Reflects Trump's Rename of Lake Ontario to 'Lake America'
Google Maps has begun displaying 'Lake America' on maps used in the United States after President Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario. The company said it updates its maps to match official government sources, and the dual display follows its long-standing policy for bodies of water that carry different names in different countries.
The U.S. Geographic Names Information System had formally changed the label from Lake Ontario to Lake America, which is why Google made the change. The company stated that people using Maps in the U.S. will see 'Lake America', while those in Canada will continue to see 'Lake Ontario', and those outside of the U.S. and Canada will see both names.
Trump signed the order Thursday directing Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to update federal records, citing strained U.S.-Canada trade relations and insufficient Canadian contributions to Great Lakes security and environmental protection. The renaming is not binding for Canada or other countries.