Apple has renamed Lake Ontario “Lake America” on Apple Maps in the United States, following Google’s decision to adopt the new name less than a week after an order from President Donald Trump.
The change applies to Apple Maps on both the website and mobile app for users in the US. People accessing the service in Canada will continue to see Lake Ontario, while users elsewhere will be shown both names.
Trump signed an executive order on August 27 directing the US Interior Department to update the lake’s name in the country’s Geographic Names Information System and other federal databases within 30 days.
“In recognition of this flourishing economic resource and its critical importance to our Nation’s economy and its people, I am directing that the Lake officially be renamed as Lake America,” the order states.
Apple did not respond to a request for comment. Google said last week that its mapping service updates geographical names to reflect changes in official government sources, including the Geographic Names Information System.
The decision by Apple and Google comes amid already strained relations between the United States and Canada after trade talks between the two countries broke down.
MapQuest has chosen not to follow the two technology companies, saying it will continue to use the familiar name Lake Ontario. The service also retained the name Gulf of Mexico after Trump ordered it to be changed to Gulf of America last year.
The dispute has brought renewed attention to MapQuest, with downloads of its iOS app lifting it to the top of the US App Store’s charts on September 1, ahead of ChatGPT. It also reached sixth place overall on Google’s Play Store across apps and games.
MapQuest appeared to embrace the contrast with its larger rivals, posting a GIF of an apple on X alongside the words: “Them Too.” In a separate post showing its position at the top of the App Store rankings, the company wrote: “The people have spoken. We are working.”
Apple and Google made a similar change last year after Trump’s order concerning the Gulf of Mexico, displaying “Gulf of America” for users in the United States while retaining regional naming differences elsewhere.
