Apple Maps renames Lake Ontario to 'Lake America,' joining Google
Business Insider · 2026-09-01
Apple Maps has changed the name of Lake Ontario to "Lake America" on its platform, following an executive order by President Donald Trump amidst a trade war with Canada. This move mirrors an earlier change by Google Maps on August 29, which also renamed the lake to "Lake America" for primarily US-based users, sparking online backlash. The US Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) formally adopted "Lake America" after Trump's order, which only applies to the federal government, leaving private companies, states, and other countries free to choose their own names. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has stated her state will continue to use "Lake Ontario," while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized the renaming, asserting the lake will always be known as Lake Ontario.