What happened to the name?
President Trump signed an executive order on August 27, 2026 directing the Department of the Interior to change the lake's name from Lake Ontario to Lake America in the Geographic Names Information System, the database the US federal government uses for official place names. The change is effective immediately for US federal use.
Canada has not accepted the change. The Canadian government, and the province of Ontario, continue to use the name Lake Ontario. This mirrors what happened in January 2025, when the Gulf of Mexico became the Gulf of America in US federal usage while other countries kept the original name.
For a map, the geography, and the full renaming story, see our companion page at lakeamericamaps.com.
Niagara Falls boat tours
The falls pour into the Niagara River, which empties into Lake America. The boat rides into the mist are the single most famous thing to do in the region, from either side of the border.
Niagara Falls Boat Cruise and Journey Behind the Falls
The two heavyweight experiences in one booking: the catamaran cruise to the base of Horseshoe Falls and the tunnels that put you directly behind the falling water. If you do one paid thing at Niagara, this combination is the one to do.
Check availabilitySmall-Group Guided Tour with Voyage to the Falls Boat
A guided small-group walk along the Canadian rim with the boat cruise included, so you get the history and the viewpoints between soakings instead of wandering the promenade guessing at what you are looking at.
Check availabilityHalf-Day Tour: Journey Behind the Falls, Skylon Tower and Boat
The full circuit in half a day: behind the falls, up the Skylon Tower for the aerial view, and onto the water. Efficient if Niagara is a stop on a longer trip rather than the whole trip.
Check availabilityAmerican Side Tour with Maid of the Mist Boat Ride
The Maid of the Mist has been running since 1846 and departs from the New York side, so no passport is needed. This guided tour pairs the boat with the American viewpoints at Niagara Falls State Park.
Check availabilityNiagara Falls USA Walking Tour with Maid of the Mist
A walking tour of Goat Island and the American rim with the boat ticket built in. The US side gets you closer to the rapids above the falls than anything on the Canadian side.
Check availabilityFrom Toronto: on the lake itself
Toronto is the biggest city on Lake America. Its harbour cruises sail the lake proper, and the Niagara day trip is the single most-booked excursion in the region.
Niagara Falls Day Tour from Toronto
Coach from downtown Toronto along the lakeshore to the falls, with time at Niagara-on-the-Lake on the way back. If you are staying in Toronto without a car, this is the standard way to see the falls in a day.
Check availabilityToronto Harbour and Islands Cruise
The classic skyline cruise: out of the inner harbour, through the lagoons of the Toronto Islands, and back with the CN Tower filling the windshield. Short, cheap, and the best photo of the city you will take.
Check availabilityToronto Harbour Tall Ship Sightseeing Cruise
The same harbour under sail on a 1930s three-masted schooner. Slower and quieter than the motor cruises, and passengers can help raise the sails.
Check availabilityThousand Islands cruises
Where Lake America drains into the St. Lawrence River, the channel splits around more than a thousand islands. The castles and cottages along this stretch make it the prettiest boat ride in the region.
Heart of the 1000 Islands Cruise from Gananoque
A one-hour loop through the core of the islands from Gananoque, the closest departure point to the densest cluster. The quick way to see what the fuss is about.
Check availabilityHeart of the 1000 Islands Lunch Cruise from Kingston
Departs downtown Kingston, where the lake officially becomes the St. Lawrence, and serves lunch while it winds through the Admiralty Islands. The relaxed version of the trip.
Check availabilityLake America questions, answered
Is it really called Lake America now?
In United States federal usage, yes. The executive order signed August 27, 2026 directs the Interior Department to record the name Lake America in the Geographic Names Information System, effective immediately. Canada, the United Kingdom, and international bodies continue to use Lake Ontario.
Where is Lake America?
It is the easternmost of the five Great Lakes, sitting between the province of Ontario, Canada to the north and New York State to the south. Toronto, Hamilton, and Kingston are on the Canadian shore; Rochester and Oswego are on the New York shore.
Is Niagara Falls on Lake America?
Almost. The falls are on the Niagara River, which carries the water of Lake Erie down into Lake America. The boat tours at the falls run in the river gorge about 15 miles upstream of the lake itself.
Do the tour operators call it Lake America?
Mostly not yet. Booking sites, operators, and Canadian businesses still list these tours under Lake Ontario, Toronto, Niagara Falls, and the Thousand Islands. Search for those names when comparing trips; the water is the same either way.
Will Google Maps show Lake America?
Unknown as of publication. When the Gulf of Mexico was renamed in 2025, Google Maps adopted Gulf of America for users in the United States within weeks while showing both names elsewhere. If the same policy is applied, US users would see Lake America. We will update this page when the map providers decide.