Lake Ontario of Canada Renamed “Lake America” by Trump
President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the U.S. Department of the Interior to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America” in the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). The change applies to the United States’ official geographic naming system. However, Trump cannot compel Canada to adopt the new name.
U.S.-Canada Trade War -
The renaming came amid escalating trade tensions between the United States and Canada. The U.S. announced 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods after trade talks broke down. Canada retaliated with tariffs on $20 billion worth of U.S. products, including steel, dairy products, appliances and farm equipment.
Canada’s Position - Lake Ontario borders Canada’s province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. Since the lake is shared by both countries, Canada continues to refer to it as Lake Ontario. The U.S. renaming therefore does not automatically change the name internationally.
Lake Ontario Geographical Significance - Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and is shared by Canada and the United States. It borders the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York.
Niagara Falls - Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls on the Canada-U.S. border. It is formed by the Niagara River, which flows from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario.
Three Waterfalls:
● Horseshoe Falls (Canadian Falls): The largest of the three; lies along the international boundary between Canada and the U.S.
● American Falls: Located entirely within the U.S. state of New York.
● Bridal Veil Falls: The smallest of the three, also located in New York.
Google Maps Update -
Following the formal U.S. renaming through GNIS, Google Maps updated the lake’s display based on the user’s location:
● U.S. users: Lake America
● Canadian users: Lake Ontario
● Users elsewhere: Lake Ontario (Lake America)
Google stated that the change follows its long-standing policy of displaying different names for geographical features when names vary between countries.