Aug 31, 2026
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Google has updated its maps in the US to label Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' following an executive order from President Donald Trump.

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ManyPress Editorial

3 min readSource:Wired
Google Maps Renames Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' in US

Key facts

  • President Trump issued the executive order on Thursday regarding the lake's name.
  • Google updated its maps to 'Lake America' late Saturday.
  • MapQuest stated on social media that it will not change the name.
  • The Geographic Names Information System is currently in the process of updating its records.
  • OpenStreetMap allows organizations to choose which name to display.

Google Maps has updated its digital interface for users in the United States to display Lake Ontario as 'Lake America.' The change occurred late Saturday, following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on Thursday that mandated the rebranding of the lake in official government databases.

Context of the Name Change

The rebranding of the lake is part of an ongoing trade dispute between the United States and Canada. This action follows a similar executive order issued by President Trump in January 2025, which renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of America' during a trade disagreement with a southern partner.

Industry Response and Mapping Standards

While Google adopted the new name, other providers have responded differently. Apple Maps and Bing Maps have not yet updated their labels, and the federal Geographic Names Information System database still listed the body as Lake Ontario as of Sunday morning. MapQuest has publicly stated it will not implement the change.

Google's Regional Display Policy

Google stated that the name displayed depends on the user's location. Users in the United States see 'Lake America,' while those in Canada continue to see 'Lake Ontario.' Users outside of both countries will see both names. The company noted that this follows its long-standing policy for bodies of water with names that vary by country.

Timeline

  1. January 2025
    President Trump issued an order to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
  2. Thursday
    President Trump issued an executive order to rename Lake Ontario.
  3. Late Saturday
    Google Maps updated its display to show 'Lake America' for users in the US.
  4. Sunday morning
    The federal Geographic Names Information System database still showed Lake Ontario.

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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Wired.

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