Google Maps to show ‘Lake Ontario’ in Canada, ‘Lake America’ in U.S. Here’s why

Google Maps is set to display "Lake Ontario" in Canada and "Lake America" in the United States, following President Donald Trump's executive order renaming the lake. The company explained that Google Maps updates rely on official government sources, such as the U.S. Geographic Names Information System. As a result, users in the U.S. will now see "Lake America," while those in Canada will see the traditional name "Lake Ontario."

Outside of Canada and the U.S., Google Maps will display a combination of both names, with Lake Ontario listed but Lake America in parentheses. Geography professor Reuben Rose-Redwood from the University of Victoria noted that Google, Apple, and Microsoft typically use official federal names for geographic places. Renaming a location on a map is not uncommon, with Rose-Redwood citing historical examples like the Falkland Islands and Victoria, B.C.

However, he emphasized that place-naming is inherently political and that Trump's actions might be a fleeting attempt to assert power. Ford, Ontario's premier, vowed that the world will continue to call the lake "Lake Ontario" despite Trump's claims.