366
The 'OG' online map platform, MapQuest, says it won't change the name of Lake Ontario
(www.businessinsider.com)
this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2026
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It's not that MapQuest won't change it, it's that the name hasn't changed.
But Goog map added "Gulf of America" under the Gulf of Mexico while MapQuest retain the Gulf of Mexico, so even when it has changed for USA MapQuest basically saying they won't follow.
Again, not that they won't follow, it's that the name hasn't changed. Trump can do what he likes and he can probably force the executive branch to use the name in official documentation, but other than that this stunt means nothing
The name of something is not an inherent property of that thing. All names are assigned.
Hi, I work in the map industry. We generally don't get to decide what names to use for features. We apply what the local official name is (to simplify). That's why if you're in country A, feature X might be named something different than if you're in country B. You can imagine this would (and has) caused many conflicts around the world if we didn't display the local official name. (Switch your region via VPN and you can see this in action)
If Google renamed it to Gulf of America, no Google didn't, not really ... They just inserted the new official name for that feature according to GNIS.
And Google are a bunch of evil techdicks so of course they suck up to the orange fuhrer.
Meaning if I visit the lake they won't change all the signage?
Well I mean I can guarantee they won't be changed around some parts of it lol. What kind of dumbass question is this? You think changing a sign makes something real?
For official matters, yes.
What official matters? There is undoubtedly now be some official documentation with this name on it. There will be lots that isn't.
Let me ask you then. Personally in your view what is the name of that lake
Yeah, I'm pretty sure the United States can't change the name of a body of water that's shared between multiple countries. If it's not that, it still hasn't gotten any sort of congressional approval.
Edit: Lake Michigan is the only one that's fully within the US. The others are patrolled by both the US Coast Guard and the Canadian Coast Guard, both have the ability to arrest anyone on either side of the border. The state governments that border the lakes have some power over them, but they're held in trust for public use. The International Joint Commission resolves any disputes regarding them. I'm not quite sure what would have to go into changing the name of Lake Ontario, but it would at least require Canadian approval and US congressional approval, perhaps even approval from the state of New York and the province of Ontario. Oh yeah, this is also completely stupid and should under no circumstances actually happen.
Gonna be really hard to get Canadian congressional approval as we have no congress
I'm well aware. I meant approval from both the congress of the United States and the government of Canada. I just wrote it a little awkwardly.
I know, just messing
Well you guys better get right on that soon cause we need your congressional approval ASAP!
That sounds nice.
If Trump really wants to turn the screws, he can make it a requirement of federal contracts that all contractors use maps that comply with his infantile demmands.
I think you're kind of living in a pre-Trump reality where laws and procedures means something. It's a super bad idea to feel comfortable with this administration because something they want to do is technically illegal. Everything is up for grabs right now.
Someone forgot about the GuLf Of AmErIcA already
Didn't forget. Name never changed