Google Maps Lake Ontario backlash grows as MapQuest tops downloads

The controversy surrounding Google Maps' decision to rename Lake Ontario to "Lake America" near the US-Canada border has intensified, with MapQuest experiencing a surge in downloads. In a move that came amid trade tensions between the US and Canada, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the federal government to rename Lake Ontario as "Lake America."

While Google quickly changed the name to Lake America for US users, it remains Lake Ontario in Canada, and shows both names for users elsewhere. This is not the first time President Trump has attempted to rename a large body of water, having previously tried to change the name of "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America." MapQuest, the dominant navigation website during the early days of the internet, has capitalized on the controversy, stating they will not change the name of Lake Ontario.

However, some caution against overreacting to the current traffic surge on MapQuest. Google's decision to rename the lake was based on following long-standing policy, citing data from the US Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). Both Google and Apple have not yet responded to The National's request for comment.