'Beyond ridiculous': if you're seeing Lake Ontario renamed as Lake America on Google Maps, here's why
After an executive order from the White House, Google Maps is relabeling the Great Lake in its apps.
In a controversial move, Google Maps has updated its maps to reflect a name change for Lake Ontario, now officially known as Lake America within the United States. This alteration, prompted by an executive order from US President Donald Trump, comes amid a trade dispute between Canada and the US over tariffs. The name Ontario, believed to be derived from an Iroquoian phrase meaning "lake of shining waters" or "beautiful lake", has remained unchanged for centuries across the globe.
Canadian authorities have countered the change with a new sign reading "Lake Ontario. Now and Always" at the lake. While Google Maps is obliged to adhere to the US Board on Geographic Names, reactions on social media have been largely critical, with many calling the switch "beyond ridiculous" and "braindead". Despite this, Google maintains that it follows official government sources when it comes to place names, stating that these updates align with their policy for bodies of water with names that vary between countries.
Notably, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has declared that New York won't be calling it Lake America, indicating pockets of resistance to the change. Currently, only users in the US will see Lake America, while those in Canada and elsewhere outside the US will continue to see Lake Ontario. Apple Maps hasn't yet implemented the change, but it may eventually be required to comply.
Written by urgent.news from TechRadar's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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