Google Renames Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' Amid US-Canada Trade Tensions
Google Maps has changed the name of Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' for users in the US, following an executive order from President Trump. The move is part of a larger effort by the administration to rename the Great Lake, which was signed into effect last year as part of a trade war with Canada.
The change only affects users in the US, while Canadians will continue to see the lake's original name, 'Lake Ontario.' International users will see both names. Google cited its update to reflect changes from the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), which is an official government source for geographic naming.
Trump signed the executive order last year amid tensions with Canada over tariffs on copper wire, wood, charcoal, steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics. The lake's natural resources and historical ties to the US were cited as reasons for the renaming.