Redrawing the Map: The Politics of Place Names in the Digital Age The recent decision by Google Maps to change the name of Lake Ontario to "Lake America" for users inside the United States has sparked a heated debate about the power of place names and their relationship to national identity.
This move follows a similar revision last year when Google Maps altered the designation of the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America.
" The change has been met with resistance from Canadian officials, who emphasize the historical significance of the original name.