Here are a few other landmarks that could be on Trump’s list next and a brief history on each one.
Article content
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order this week to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America, a move swiftly dismissed by Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Article content
“We know that America is changing. Their trading relationships, their foreign policies, their national monuments, their hydronyms,” Carney posted on social media. “Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario — then, now and always.”
Article content
Article content
Story continues below
Article content
The name Lake Ontario has been around for centuries, named after a Wendat word, Ontar’io, which means ‘the lake is beautiful, the lake is big.” The name predates both the Confederation of Canada and the Declaration of Independence of the U.S.
Article content
Article content
Sunrise
Article content
For now there is no indication that Trump is coming after other landmarks that cross the Canada-U.S. border. But if he does, there are several in B.C.
Article content
From towering peaks and glacial rivers, to freshwater lakes and a giant ice field B.C. shares some remarkable pieces of geography with its southern neighbour. Here are 10 natural features that cross the border and the origins of their names.
Article content
Article content
Osoyoos Lake
Article content
Article content
Location: Osoyoos Lake lies on both sides of the border, with the town of Osoyoos, B.C., sitting on the northern part of the lake and the city of Oroville, Wash. and its dam on the southern tip.
Article content
Named after: The Okanagan First Nations word sw̓iw̓s, which means the “place where two lakes meet.” It refers to the narrows formed by two sand and gravel spits across the lake.
Article content
Did you know: Osoyoos Lake is widely known as Canada’s warmest freshwater lake, with summer temperatures averaging around 24 C in July and August.
Article content
Story continues below
Article content
Columbia River
Article content
Article content
Location: The largest river in the Pacific Northwest, the Columbia River weaves its way roughly 2,000 kilometres from the Rocky Mountains through southeast B.C. to Washington state and Oregon before reaching the Pacific Ocean.
Article content
Named after: The river was named by American Captain Robert Gray after his ship Columbia, which entered the mouth of the river near present-day Astoria, Ore., in 1792. The ship honoured Italian explorer Christopher Columbus whose 1492 expedition reached the Americas.
Article content
Did you know: The Columbia River is heavily harnessed for hydroelectric power. It is home to 14 dams, including three in Canada which produce roughly half of B.C.’s electricity.
Article content
Mount Fairweather
Article content
Article content
Location: Part of the spectacular Saint Elias Mountains, Mount Fairweather sits along the B.C.-Alaska border, with its Canadian side within Tatshenshini-Alsek provincial park and its American side in Glacier Bay National Park.
Article content
Named after: Captain James Cook gave the mountain its optimistic name in 1778, apparently after encountering unusually favourable weather in the area
