Lake Ontario Keeps Its Name Amid Renaming Attempt
MapQuest has decided not to change the name of Lake Ontario, despite an executive order from President Donald Trump directing its rename to “Lake America” for U.S. federal purposes. On Thursday, MapQuest shared on X that they will retain the name Lake Ontario, even launching a tool for users to create their own custom names for the lake.
The original post by MapQuest has received significant attention, with over 4.7 million views by Friday evening. This raises a question about whether Google Maps will comply with Trump’s directive.
The Reason Behind Trump’s Renaming
President Trump signed the executive order renaming Lake Ontario as “Lake America” following failed trade negotiations between the United States and Canada. He criticized Canada’s approach to trade, stating the country felt entitled.
In his order, Trump highlighted the lake’s historical significance to the U.S. in terms of exploration, commerce, and military engagements. The importance of Lake Ontario in trade and manufacturing remains a focal point.
The U.S. Geological Survey has updated its electronic documents to reflect the name change, which will also appear in printed documents in the near future. However, this change only applies to U.S. federal documents and does not oblige adoption by Canada or private companies.
Public Reaction to MapQuest and the Name Change
MapQuest, known as the first commercial web mapping service, received varied responses. Some appreciated the company’s stance against the executive order, while others humorously commented on its resurgence.
Eric Trump remarked on MapQuest’s continued existence, joking about its outdatedness compared to newer technologies.
Many people engaged with MapQuest’s feature to rename the lake in a variety of ways.
Officials on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border have criticized the renaming. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized the historical roots of the name “Lake Ontario” stemming from the Wendat language. He expressed Canada’s intention to maintain the original name.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed similar sentiments, asserting New York’s non-recognition of the new name. The U.S. State Department, in humor, acknowledged the previous labeling error of the lake’s name on their website.
Potential Impact on Google Maps
Historically, Google has aligned with U.S. government sources regarding geographic name changes. When the Gulf of Mexico was renamed Gulf of America by Trump, Google updated its maps accordingly after the GNIS update. How Google will respond to the Lake Ontario change remains under speculation.
Google has previously shown users different names based on location; for instance, those in the U.S. saw “Gulf of America” while users in Mexico saw “Gulf of Mexico.” It is unclear if a similar approach will be taken here.
Newsweek editors Kate Nalepinski and Edward T. Cummins have been contacted for comments on this situation.