Apple Maps has renamed Lake Ontario to Lake America for US users, following an executive order by President Trump amid trade tensions with Canada.
Apple has officially renamed Lake Ontario to Lake America on its mapping application for users in the United States. This change follows an executive order issued by United States President Donald Trump amidst ongoing trade disputes between the US and Canada. Users in Canada will continue to see the original name, Lake Ontario.
This decision by Apple aligns closely with the recent directives issued by the Trump administration after trade talks between the neighbouring nations ended without an agreement last month. As part of the souring relations, the US introduced significant tariffs of 50% on $20 billion (£14.8 billion; C$28 billion) worth of Canadian goods, which prompted strong reactions from Canadian officials.
In a bid to comply with President Trump’s executive order, Apple was urged to update its Maps platform. Reports indicate that US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum communicated this directive to the tech company. The order stipulates a 30-day period for the US Department of the Interior to implement the change in the Geographic Names Information Service, the official naming database for geographical features in the country.
In a display of support for the name change, President Trump has been active on social media, sharing videos that include him altering a sign for Lake Ontario to instead read ‘Welcome to Lake America’. This bold move has elicited considerable backlash, particularly on social media platforms, as critics express their discontent over the alteration of a geographical name linked to Indigenous heritage.
In a counter-response to the US action, Canadian officials have reiterated that Lake Ontario is an enduring name. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said, “Just in case President Trump or anyone else forgets, we’ve set up this sign to remind them, it’s Lake Ontario, now and forever.” Canada has also announced it will implement tariff countermeasures that match the US levies.
Rival technology firm Google has also made similar changes to its mapping application, changing the name for its American users but retaining Lake Ontario for Canadians. Google’s update came soon after Apple’s announcement, with the company stating that its maps update to reflect changes in official government sources.
Despite these alterations, not all mapping services are following suit. MapQuest, a free web mapping service, publicly declared it would not be making the renaming change, emphasising its commitment to maintaining the traditional name.
The Great Lakes, which include Lake Ontario, hold significant importance and cultural history, with four of the five named after Indigenous terms. The smallest of the Great Lakes, Lake Ontario, is located between the Canadian province of Ontario and the US state of New York. Meanwhile, the past renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America by several mapping platforms underscores the complexities behind geographical naming, leading to legal actions such as Google’s previous lawsuits over similar issues.
As this situation evolves, both companies, Apple and Google, are expected to continue facing scrutiny as they navigate the implications of honouring government directives while respecting cultural identities.
