Google Renames Lake Ontario ‘Lake America’ for US Users, but Not in Canada
Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
- Google Maps users in the United States began seeing “Lake America” for Lake Ontario after President Donald Trump announced the renaming.
- Canadian users will continue to see the lake’s longstanding name, while users elsewhere will see both names, Google said.
- The change comes amid an escalating US-Canada trade dispute and criticism from Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
A new name for Lake Ontario now depends on which side of the US-Canada border a Google Maps user is viewing it from. Users in the United States see “Lake America,” while people in Canada continue to see Lake Ontario.
Absolutely backwards.
Google said it made the change to match the US Geographic Names Information System, the federal database for geographic names. Users outside both countries will see both names. Apple’s Maps app had not adopted “Lake America” as of Sunday morning.
The naming dispute has emerged alongside a worsening trade confrontation between Washington and Ottawa. The two longtime allies have imposed tariffs on each other, turning a geographic label into another point of friction.
It’s just so disappointing.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford called the change “absolutely backwards” and said it looked like something from “Saturday Night Live.” He said Canadians would not use the new name and described the development as “so disappointing.”
A tariff on Canada is nothing more than a tax on American people.
Ford also warned that a trade war would hurt both countries, arguing that US auto factories could suffer if Canadian purchases of US vehicles declined. The countries’ auto industries rely heavily on cross-border production, including Canadian-made parts for US vehicles. Trump responded that Americans “want to make our own cars” and accused Canada of exploiting the United States.
Canada has been ripping us off for years, NO LONGER!
Originally published by Dawn in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.