Trump-Ordered Rename Hits Google Maps
Google Maps has begun displaying 'Lake America' for Lake Ontario in the United States, following the federal government's decision to rename the Great Lake. The change comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order on August 27 directing the Interior Department and U.S. Board on Geographic Names to update federal records and geographic databases.
The new name will be displayed only for users in the United States, while those in Canada will continue to see 'Lake Ontario.' People viewing Google Maps outside of the United States and Canada will see both names.
The change does not require Canadian officials to adopt the new name, with the Canadian government stating they will continue to call the lake Lake Ontario. For New Yorkers, the most visible change will be the name displayed on Google Maps and other services that rely on U.S. government geographic data.