Lake Ontario or Lake America? Apple Is Next

Google Maps now shows “Lake America” to users in the United States, while Canada keeps “Lake Ontario” and users elsewhere see both names. The next pressure point is Apple Maps: Interior Secretary Doug Burgum says President Donald Trump contacted Apple directly, but Apple has not confirmed a change.

Trump’s Aug. 27 executive order changes the U.S. Geographic Names Information System, the database used for official U.S. map standards. The order does not change Canadian naming conventions or dictate what the rest of the world calls the lake. 12

Google says U.S. users see “Lake America,” Canadian users see “Lake Ontario,” and users outside both countries see both names. Ontario Premier Doug Ford answered with a lakeside sign reading “Lake Ontario: Now and Always.” Several Ontario agency websites briefly displayed the U.S. label because they used third-party map data; MapQuest said it was not changing the name. 3

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