MapQuest Surges as Top App After Refusing Lake America Name

The mobile app from MapQuest became the top navigation tool in the United States after the company refused to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America. The decision follows an executive order by President Donald Trump directing the United States Department of the Interior to update the name, a move linked to the breakdown of trade talks and the imposition of 50% tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian goods.

While Google Maps complied by displaying Lake America to U.S. users, MapQuest maintained the original name and launched a tool allowing users to customize the lake's name. This stance triggered a surge in downloads, with usage levels reaching 50 times above normal and the app hitting first place on the Apple App Store. Apple Maps has continued to use Lake Ontario, while Google-owned Waze displays the original name in search results before swapping it to Lake America upon selection.

In Canada, Ontario Premier Doug Ford protested the order by placing a billboard on the shore of the lake. MapQuest General Manager Doug Berger defended the company's position, stating that the approach provides users with names they are familiar with.