Google Maps Renames Lake Ontario to Lake America Amidst Trade Tensions

In a significant shift, Google Maps has updated its designation of Lake Ontario to "Lake America" for users in the United States, following an executive order from President Donald Trump. This change, announced on August 30, aims to reflect the president's efforts to rebrand the smallest of the Great Lakes amid escalating trade disputes with Canada.

According to Google, the name modification adheres to the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), which governs the naming standards for official U.S. maps. While U.S. users will see the new name, Canadians will continue to recognize it as Lake Ontario, and international users will see both names.

The renaming has sparked backlash, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressing strong disapproval. Ford emphasized that the world will always refer to it as Lake Ontario, unveiling a sign to reinforce this sentiment. New York's Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul also rejected the name change, stating that "New York won't be calling it that." In response to the change, Ontario officials are reviewing their websites to ensure they accurately refer to the lake.

Source: www.dailymaverick.co.za