Google Maps Renames Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' Amid Trade Tensions
Google Maps has made an unexpected change to its mapping service, displaying 'Lake America' when users in the United States search for the term. This alteration comes after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to rename Lake Ontario as such.
The move is seen as a response to trade talks breaking down between Washington and Ottawa, with Canada announcing retaliatory tariffs just days prior. Prime Minister Mark Carney responded by stating that Canadians will continue to refer to the lake by its original name, regardless of the new designation.
According to Google, the change was made due to the U.S. government's geographic names database formally changing the lake's name. However, this alteration only affects users in the United States, as Canadians will still see 'Lake Ontario' when searching for it unless they specifically search for 'Lake America'.