After renaming ‘Gulf of Mexico’ to ‘Gulf of America’, Google Maps changes name of ‘Lake Ontario’
Google Maps has introduced a noteworthy update, displaying Lake Ontario as Lake America for American users. This decision aligns with a new presidential executive order and modifications to the GNIS. Canadian officials maintain the traditional name, highlighting its rich heritage over centuries. Meanwhile, alternative mapping platforms such as MapQuest and Apple Maps have not yet responded to…
Google Maps has updated its display label for Lake Ontario to "Lake America" for users within the United States, following a presidential executive order issued recently. This name change echoes a similar alteration made in February 2025, when the Gulf of Mexico was renamed "Gulf of America." Google explained in a blog post that the updated naming convention varies based on the user's location worldwide.
The U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) officially changed the name of Lake Ontario to "Lake America" in the United States. Consequently, users in the U.S. will see "Lake America," while those in Canada will continue to see "Lake Ontario." Canadians, however, maintain that the lake's historic name holds significant cultural value, as it originates from the Wendat word "Ontari'io," meaning "the lake is beautiful, the lake is big."
Meanwhile, MapQuest plans to offer a custom naming option for the lake, while Apple Maps hasn't yet implemented the change. Some Canadian government websites display "Lake America" due to pulling map data from Google Maps, an issue the province is addressing. Google provides a solution for website developers: by setting their region to Canada, "Lake Ontario" will be displayed.
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