These Google Maps Alternatives Still Call It ‘Lake Ontario’ (for Now)

Aug 31, 2026 09:00 PM - 1 hour ago 2
Jake Peterson is Lifehacker’s Tech Editor, and has been covering tech news and how-tos for astir a decade. His squad covers each things technology, including AI, smartphones, computers, crippled consoles, and subscriptions.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America." The move was retaliation against Canada for walking distant from contentious waste and acquisition talks and successful spite of the truth that Lake Ontario's sanction has thing to do pinch the Canadian province. Regardless, tech companies are now dealing pinch the consequences.

Why did Google Maps alteration Lake Ontario's name?

If you unrecorded successful the U.S., you whitethorn person opened Google Maps this play to spot that the app had already changed Lake Ontario's name. Even if you don't unrecorded successful the U.S., you whitethorn spot the sanction change: As it happens, location are now 3 different naming schemes for the reservoir successful Google's navigation app. If you usage the app successful the U.S., you'll spot "Lake America." If you usage it successful Canada, you'll spot "Lake Ontario." If you usage it anyplace other successful the world, you'll spot "Lake Ontario (Lake America)." Thanks, Google.

Lake Ontario naming schemes successful Google Maps.
Credit: Google

Google did the aforesaid erstwhile Trump "changed" the sanction of the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America." While Google explains successful a blog post that its argumentation is to travel the naming conventions of the U.S. Geographic Names Information System, it's besides arguable that the institution doesn't want to get into basking h2o pinch the Trump Administration, lest it beryllium punished pinch early policies that could wounded its trillion-dollar business.

Whether you see it basal bureaucratic compliance aliases firm cowardice, Google Maps now calls the reservoir by its "new" name. It doesn't impact really the app useful (maybe unless you're looking for directions to, aliases accusation about, Lake Ontario), but if the alteration rankles you, you person different options: As it stands, location are respective Google Maps alternatives that still explanation it "Lake Ontario."

Which maps apps still telephone it Lake Ontario?

As of this writing, astir of the navigation apps disposable to download telephone Lake Ontario by its official/"former" name. Whether that will stay existent arsenic the week goes connected remains a question, but for now, the pursuing apps are still reflecting the world consensus:

What do you deliberation truthful far?
  • Apple Maps

  • MapQuest

  • Organic Maps

Technically, Waze besides still calls it Lake Ontario connected its map, and the sanction pops up erstwhile you commencement to hunt for it. But erstwhile you pat the result, the app past swaps the sanction to Lake America. That's to beryllium expected, fixed Google owns Waze, but the app initially tricked maine into reasoning it had maintained the erstwhile position quo.

Will different apps alteration Lake Ontario's name?

Will each these different apps support the Lake Ontario sanction complete the agelong term? Like Google, Apple yet changed the Gulf of Mexico's name, truthful it will apt do the aforesaid pinch the lake. However, MapQuest and Organic Maps still telephone the Gulf of Mexico by its correct name, truthful chances are bully they'll support Lake Ontario connected their maps for the foreseeable future.

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