Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Michigan earns its nickname, "The Great Lakes State," because it borders four of the five Great Lakes: Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Erie. (Only Lake Ontario does not touch Michigan.) This gives Michigan the longest freshwater coastline of any U.S. state—over 3,200 miles (5,150 km). The state also contains over 11,000 inland lakes, making it a premier destination for boating, fishing, and water sports.