Lake America: Apple Maps Renames Lake Ontario | Guide

Apple Maps has begun renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America for users in the United States, following President Donald Trump's executive order and Google's earlier decision to adopt the change. The update, rolling out on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, marks a major shift in how the world's second-largest mapping platform labels one of North America's most significant border lakes.

What is the Lake America name change?

The Lake America name change refers to the Trump administration's directive to rename Lake Ontario, a Great Lake shared by the United States and Canada, to Lake America in U.S. government documents and maps. Last week, Trump signed an executive order formalizing the change, and the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) updated its database accordingly. Apple confirmed it was asked directly by the administration to adopt the new label. MacRumors reported that the change is gradual, with some users seeing the new name when tapping the lake.

Why did Apple and Google rename Lake Ontario?

Both companies say they follow official government sources for geographic naming. Google Maps made the switch on August 29, citing its policy of using the GNIS database. Apple's move came days later. Lake Ontario has a history stretching back more than 300 years, including Indigenous Wendat and Haudenosaunee roots and mentions in the 1776 Continental Congress and the 1783 Treaty of Paris, notes Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated that Trump reached out to Apple directly to request the rename. This mirrors the earlier renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in 2025. The US-Canada trade war and escalating tariffs provide the political backdrop.

Lake Ontario vs Lake America: Key Differences

Slightly more than half of the lake lies in Canada, with the remainder in New York state. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has said she will not adopt the new name. There is no international body that sets an official name for cross-border lakes.

Impact on US-Canada relations and trade

The rename coincides with a sharp deterioration in bilateral ties. The U.S. recently imposed a 50% import tariff on about $20 billion in Canadian goods, and Canada retaliated with comparable duties. Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiled a large sign reading Lake Ontario. Now and Always. Trump responded with an AI-generated video replacing the sign with Lake America. The 2026 US midterm elections loom, and a Reuters/Ipsos poll found 63% of Americans oppose the name change, while about 60% oppose the trade war with Canada. This public pushback may affect the Trump administration's polling numbers in the fall. MapQuest, which refused to adopt the rename, has surged to the top of the free app charts on Apple's App Store, underscoring the controversy.

FAQ

Why did Apple Maps change Lake Ontario to Lake America?

Apple followed President Trump's executive order and the updated U.S. Geographic Names Information System, and the administration directly requested the change.

Do Canadians see Lake America on Apple Maps?

No. Canadian users still see Lake Ontario, while U.S. users see Lake America, and users elsewhere see both names.

Is Lake America the official name?

Only within U.S. federal government documents and for U.S. mapping platforms. Canada continues to call it Lake Ontario.

What percentage of the lake is in Canada?

Slightly more than half of Lake Ontario lies in Canada; the rest is in New York state.

How did Google Maps handle the rename?

Google Maps made the change on August 29, showing Lake America to U.S. users, Lake Ontario to Canadians, and both names to others.