Apple Maps renames Lake Ontario to 'Lake America,' joining Google

Apple Maps has recently adopted the controversial name change of Lake Ontario to Lake America for US users. This move follows a parallel action taken by Google Maps, which previously renamed the same Great Lake. The name alteration is a direct result of President Donald Trump's executive order, which aimed to rename various geographical features in the United States.

Despite the official government's insistence on maintaining the traditional name, Apple and Google chose to align with the government's stance, although the order's application is not binding for private companies. While Trump's administration claimed jurisdiction over the federal government's renaming processes, individual states and private companies, such as Apple and Google, are free to decide the names they adhere to.

The controversy surrounding the name change has sparked a significant backlash from Canadian authorities, who categorically maintain that Lake Ontario is not and will not be renamed to Lake America. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney dismissed the move, emphasizing that Canada's geographic features will continue to be referred to in their traditional names, asserting that reality remains steadfast in its naming.

The US Geological Survey, responsible for maintaining the US Board of Geographic Names, firmly supports the traditional name Lake Ontario, noting its historical use dating back over 300 years.