Google Maps changes Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' in US searches

Google Maps is set to display “Lake America” instead of “Lake Ontario” for users in the United States starting this weekend, after a policy change tied to President Donald Trump’s executive order. Google said in a statement Saturday that the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) has formally changed the lake’s U.S. name from “Lake Ontario” to “Lake America.” U.S. users will therefore see “Lake America,” while users in Canada will continue seeing “Lake Ontario.” For users outside the two countries, Google said both names will appear, with “Lake America” in parentheses after “Lake Ontario,” reflecting the company’s practice of following official government sources. Trump officials highlighted the update on social media. Alternatives like Waze and Apple Maps still label it “Lake Ontario,” and MapQuest said it would not change.