Apple, Google rename Lake Ontario to Lake America for U.S. users
Apple and Google updated their maps for U.S. users to show 'Lake America' instead of 'Lake Ontario' following a presidential decree by Donald Trump, while MapQuest refused to comply and gained popularity as a result.
Consensus
- Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' on August 27.
- Google Maps changed the name to 'Lake America' for users in the United States.
- Apple Maps changed the name to 'Lake America' for U.S. users.
- Users in Canada continue to see the name 'Lake Ontario'.
- Users outside the U.S. and Canada see both names displayed.
- MapQuest refused to change the name and posted a public statement rejecting the change.
- The change occurred amid ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada.
- The renaming is linked to the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
Points of divergence
- Apple Maps still displays the lake as 'Ontario' and has not changed the name. — meduza
- Apple received a personal request from President Trump to change the name. — fontanka
- President Trump directly contacted Apple with a request to change the name. — kommersant
- President Trump contacted Apple and urged the company to rename the lake. — tg_bbcrussian
- MapQuest's refusal to change the name led to it becoming the most downloaded navigation app in the U.S. — meduza
- MapQuest became the top app in Apple's App Store after its refusal. — fontanka
- The Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, installed a billboard on the Canadian side of the lake with the message 'Lake Ontario: Now and Forever'. — tg_dwglavnoe
Coverage (13 sources)
- Apple renames Lake Ontario to Lake America following Trump order. Only one service refused. — Фонтанка
- Apple renamed Lake Ontario to Lake America on its maps for US users — BBC News Русская служба
- Apple Maps renamed Lake Ontario to Lake America — ЭХО / Новости
- Apple renamed Lake Ontario to 'America Lake' on its own maps — Коммерсантъ
- Google Maps renamed Lake Ontario to Lake America for US users, confirmed by TASS correspondent. If doing a request from other countries, instead of the requested "Lake Ontario" in the search bar appears "Lake Ontario (Lake America)". At the same time... — ТАСС (Telegram)
- Trump renamed Lake Ontario to 'America Lake'. Google followed the president's order, Apple did not — Meduza
- Google renamed Lake Ontario to Lake America. But only for Americans This week US President Donald Trump... — ЭХО / Новости
- Google Maps renamed Lake Ontario to 'America Lake' — Коммерсантъ
- Google after Trump decree renamed Lake Ontario to "Lake America" — DW Главное
- Google renamed Lake Ontario for Americans. A banner appeared on the shore — Фонтанка
- Google renamed Lake Ontario to Lake America. But only for Americans — ЭХО / Новости
- Google renamed Lake Ontario to Lake America for US users — Ведомости
- Google Maps began showing Americans Lake Ontario under a new name — Вести
Key entities
- Ontario
- USA
- America
- Donald Trump
- Apple
- Canada
- Google Maps
- United States
- TASS
- Gulf of Mexico
- Great Lakes
- Geographic Names Information System
- Moscow