How AP decided what to call Lake Ontario or Lake America

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America. The border between the United States and Canada runs through Lake Ontario. Trump's order only affects how the United States government refers to the body of water. Canada, as well as other countries and international bodies, are not required to recognize the name change, and Canada has said it will not.

The Associated Press will refer to the lake by its original name, while acknowledging and explaining the name Trump has chosen if it is relevant. As a global news agency that disseminates news around the world, the AP must ensure that place names and geography are easily recognizable to broad audiences.

There is no single body that determines names of international bodies of water. Trump has wide latitude over how the U.S. government recognizes geographic places and landmarks.

Lake Ontario has carried that name for more than 400 years. The word "Ontario" is derived from the northern Iroquoian language family. The Canadian province of Ontario, founded in 1867, took its name from the lake.

There are examples around the world in which geographical places are referred to by different names. The AP strives to use terms recognizable to the broadest audience. For example, the U.S. government has designated the body of water that separates Baja California from mainland Mexico as the Gulf of California, while Mexico recognizes it as the Sea of Cortez. AP uses both terms depending on the context. The Persian Gulf is known as the Arabian Gulf in many Arab countries. The AP calls this body of water the Persian Gulf, and includes the name Arabian Gulf when relevant.

Previously, Trump issued an executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The body of water forms a shared border between Mexico and the U.S. The AP calls it the Gulf of Mexico, noting Trump's chosen name when relevant. Trump also signed an executive order to revert the name of North America's tallest peak, Denali in Alaska, to Mount McKinley. The AP uses the official name change to Mount McKinley. The area lies solely in the United States and as president, and Trump has the authority to change federal geographical names within the country.

This paragraph can be included in stories as needed to explain our decision-making:

"The Associated Press will refer to Lake Ontario by its original name, including the name Trump has chosen when relevant. As a global news agency that disseminates news around the world, the AP must ensure that place names and geography are recognizable to broad audiences."

AP maps, graphics and interactives will use Lake Ontario.

The AP regularly reviews its style guidance regarding name changes, in part to ensure its guidance reflects common usage. We will continue to apply that approach to this guidance and make updates as needed.