In a move that aligns with the recent changes made by Google, Apple has decided to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America” on its Apple Maps platform, shortly after a directive from President Trump.
Users in the U.S. accessing Apple Maps will now see Lake America, a designation for one of the Great Lakes in North America, whereas Canadian users will continue to view it as Lake Ontario. International users will have access to both names.
This alteration stems from an executive order issued by Trump on August 27, directing the Interior Department to change the lake’s name in federal databases within 30 days.
The executive order states, “To acknowledge this vital economic asset and its significant role in our Nation’s economy and its citizens, I am ordering that the lake be officially designated as Lake America.”
This action by Trump, along with compliance from both Apple and Google, has intensified the already tense relations with Canada, particularly following the collapse of trade negotiations between the two countries.
Apple has not provided a comment on the situation, while Google Maps justified its change, stating that it updates names in accordance with modifications from governmental sources like the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
In contrast, MapQuest has opted to retain the name Lake Ontario on its maps, standing by the familiar designation. The service did not change the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America last year either.
The decisions by Apple and Google have resulted in a surge of users flocking to MapQuest. The app has experienced a dramatic uptick in downloads, reaching the top position in the U.S. App Store for the first time, even surpassing established apps like ChatGPT on September 1.
Additionally, MapQuest has achieved the No. 6 ranking overall in Google Play Store for both apps and games. The company appears unyielding in its stance, humorously posting on social media with a GIF of an apple, captioned “Them Too.” They also celebrated their status as the most downloaded app with a post, stating, “The people have spoken. We are working.”
This isn’t the first time Apple and Google have adhered to Trump’s directives; they both renamed the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America last year following similar orders.
