Apple Maps continues to display Lake Ontario under its original name, even as Google Maps has adopted a new label for the same body of water. The difference stems from a recent executive order to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America, the latest flashpoint in the trade dispute between the United States and Canada.
The move follows a similar pattern from last year, when an executive order renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. This time, the order targets the smallest of the Great Lakes, directing that it be called Lake America.
The response outside the United States has been largely dismissive. Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiled a billboard along the lake’s shoreline reading “Lake Ontario. Now and always.”
How Google Maps Handles the Name Change
Google Maps has updated its labeling, but what users see depends on their location. In the United States, the lake appears as Lake America. Canadian users still see Lake Ontario, while users in the rest of the world see Lake Ontario with Lake America shown in parentheses.
This approach mirrors how the company handled the Gulf of Mexico. According to a Google blog post cited by the Associated Press, the company’s policy is to follow the names assigned by the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
Apple Maps Takes a Different Path
Apple Maps has so far kept the name Lake Ontario for all users, including those in the United States. Whether Apple will eventually adjust its labeling, as it did for the Gulf of Mexico, remains unclear.
Apple has historically sought to avoid political controversy and has at times made decisions aligned with the current administration’s preferences. With new leadership in place, the company’s future stance on the naming issue is uncertain. For now, Apple Maps displays Lake Ontario worldwide.
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Image: 9to5mac.com
