Google Maps now show ‘Lake America’ in US, not ‘Lake Ontario’

Google Maps has renamed Lake Ontario to Lake America for users in the United States, following an executive order from President Donald Trump. The change reflects the renaming of the lake as part of an escalating trade dispute between the U.S. and Canada, which has led to reciprocal tariffs on billions of dollars worth of goods.

The U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), which sets standards for official U.S. maps, influences the change. However, the name alteration does not impact Canadian naming conventions or the lake's global references. Google Maps will display "Lake America" for users in the U.S., while Canadians and those outside North America will continue to see "Lake Ontario."

The White House, Canada's prime minister, and Ontario's premier have not yet commented on Google's decision. Similar to the Gulf of Mexico, which was also renamed "Gulf of America" by Trump on his first day in office, the lake's name change has sparked reactions from various U.S. governors and Ontario's premier, who emphasized the lake's historical and global identity.