Florida is the Sunshine State, but, with apologies to Minnesota, it’s also a state of lakes. Florida has over 7,800 lakes, and more than 35 percent of those are located in the region near and north of Orlando in Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Polk counties. The area is a playground for those who love the water. Crystal-clear springs bubble up everywhere, and winding rivers and lakes provide miles of shoreline for boating, fishing, wakeboarding, and other recreational activities.