Google Maps Renames Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' Amid US-Canada Tensions

Google has updated its Maps service to display Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' for users in the United States. This change follows the official renaming of the lake in the US Geographic Names Information System. Canadians will continue to see the traditional name, while users elsewhere may see both names.

The decision has sparked a mixed response from technology companies. MapQuest announced it would keep using 'Lake Ontario' but create a satirical tool allowing users to choose their own name for the lake. Apple Maps had not adopted the new designation as of Sunday.

Democratic lawmakers have strongly opposed the renaming, with Representative Debbie Dingell planning to introduce the 'Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act' to reverse the executive order. Canadian leaders, including Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, have also rejected the name change, with Ford criticizing the US decision as an attempt to erase history.

The update has affected some Canadian government and business websites that use embedded Google mapping services, with officials reviewing their sites to ensure the lake is still referred to as Lake Ontario.