Rename Lake Ontario to Lake America: A New Perspective on North America’s Great Lakes

In a recent display of trade war antics, US President Donald Trump made headlines by issuing an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America” after trade negotiations with Canada fell through. This move was met with compliance from tech giants Google and Apple, with Google leading the charge by updating its mapping system to reflect the new name based on the US Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) standards. Apple Maps quickly followed suit, likely under pressure from the president himself.

The timing of this change raised eyebrows, with speculation that President Trump may have personally reached out to Apple CEO Tim Cook to expedite the process. While the change has been implemented in the US, the rest of the world will see a compromise with Google Maps labeling the lake as “Lake Ontario (Lake America)” and Apple Maps still unclear on its approach.

Interestingly, Canadian websites relying on US data providers faced a dilemma as many inadvertently displayed the new name “Lake America” instead of “Lake Ontario.” The majority of these services rectified the error promptly upon realization. However, one mapping provider, MapQuest, took a different stance by maintaining the historical names for lakes and gulfs on its maps. This decision catapulted MapQuest to the top of the charts in Canada and the US, showcasing its commitment to preserving familiar names for its users.

MapQuest’s General Manager, Doug Berger, emphasized the importance of user feedback in shaping their approach, allowing users the flexibility to rename the lake as they see fit. This user-centric strategy has garnered significant support, with MapQuest’s app gaining traction amidst the controversy surrounding Lake Ontario’s renaming.

Overall, the renaming of Lake Ontario to “Lake America” has sparked a debate on the implications of such changes and the importance of preserving historical names in geographical references. While Google and Apple have adjusted their maps to reflect the new name, MapQuest’s unique approach highlights the value of maintaining traditional names for user familiarity and engagement.