Canada

Google Maps Currently Displays ‘Lake America’ in Place of Lake Ontario

Google Maps Currently Displays ‘Lake America’ in Place of Lake Ontario

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Lake Ontario is now referred to as “Lake America” on Google Maps in the United States. Late Saturday, Google changed the designation of this eastern Great Lake, following President Donald Trump’s recent order for a change in official documentation.

The executive action issued by Trump on Thursday arose from a trade dispute regarding tariffs with Canada, whose capital province is also named Ontario. In a comparable incident in January 2025, Trump instructed that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America amidst a disagreement with a southern trade ally.

Firms such as Google, Apple, and Microsoft modified their databases to show Gulf of America once the US Department of the Interior updated its information, reflecting the trend seen after Trump’s latest directive. Therefore, when official data—which informs navigation and formal documents—recognized Lake America, Google’s mapping services adopted the new title.

Other platforms like Apple Maps and Bing Maps have yet to implement this change but are anticipated to follow. Even the Geographic Names Information System database’s map, which dictates such updates, still identified Lake Ontario on Sunday morning but indicated that changes are on the horizon.

Although entities like Google are not legally mandated to utilize official titles, they typically conform to resources such as GNIS. The names displayed on maps are contingent on the user’s geographical location.

In a statement, Google stated, “Users in the US will observe ‘Lake America,’ Canadians will see ‘Lake Ontario,’ and outside these nations, both names will be visible.” They also remarked, “These updates are consistent with our policy on region-specific designations for water bodies and are in the process of being implemented.”

Trump’s effort to modify maps has ignited significant dialogue among open-source mapping communities like OpenStreetMap, which supports businesses such as Uber and Lyft. OpenStreetMap recognizes both US and global designations, enabling organizations to select which name to display.

Conversely, MapQuest has announced it will not follow the changes, declaring on social media, “we’re not changing it,” in response to Trump’s directive.

Canadian Wildfire Smoke Covers the Northeast

Canadian Wildfire Smoke Covers the Northeast

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Smoke emanating from significant wildfires in Canada is drifting into the Midwest and Northeast, triggering air quality warnings in cities throughout the region.

The elevated smoke levels imply that even healthy adults should take precautions to safeguard their wellbeing. The intensifying severity of wildfires across the continent, partly attributed to climate change, indicates that regions without active fires will still experience repercussions.

As of Wednesday, more than 100 uncontrolled blazes are raging in Canada, with numerous others being monitored or extinguished. The smoke has spread south and east, creating hazy skies from Minnesota to New York. Notably, on Wednesday, Toronto encountered orange-hued skies. The area is also enduring a heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit in many spots and an even higher heat index.

On Wednesday evening, the air quality index (AQI) in New York City reached 180, classifying the air as “unhealthy” according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Other regions faced worse situations, with Duluth, Minnesota, registering an AQI above 500 (anything over 301 is classified as “hazardous” and dangerous for everyone). Smoky conditions are likely to intensify in parts of the Northeast US on Thursday, impacting areas such as New York.

The smoke contains tiny PM2.5 particles, measuring less than 2.5 micrometers, about 30 times finer than a human hair.

Exposure to PM2.5 can aggravate numerous health problems, particularly in vulnerable populations. Nicholas Nassikas, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, recommends that his patients with ailments like asthma avoid being outdoors in these smoky situations. Children breathe more rapidly, resulting in greater exposure, while the elderly, often residing in poorly-ventilated spaces, are also at greater risk.

Jennifer Stowell from the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health mentions that even those in good health should exercise caution when the AQI surpasses 100. She advises limiting outdoor activities to lower exposure and, if necessary to be outside for extended periods, wearing an N95 mask is recommended. Stowell, located in Boston where the AQI reached 110 on Wednesday, chose to skip outdoor activities until later in the evening.

Dan Westervelt from Columbia University is also wary, deciding to keep his children indoors and forgoing physical activities such as running.

Climate change is raising temperatures, extending wildfire seasons, and fostering hotter, drier conditions that facilitate large fires. A study released last year suggests that wildfire smoke already causes 40,000 US deaths annually, potentially rising to 70,000 by 2050 if warming trends continue. As days with poor air quality from wildfire smoke become more common, research into the long-term effects of exposure is ongoing. The Northeast saw a comparable smoke event from Canadian wildfires in 2023.

Westervelt articulates, “Extended exposure to high air pollution has been demonstrated in numerous studies to cause premature mortality. Frequent encounters with elevated air pollution levels can decrease life expectancy.”