Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. It is the world's second-largest landlocked country after Kazakhstan. Its capital, Ulaanbaatar, is the coldest capital city in the world. Known as the 'Land of the Blue Sky,' Mongolia has over 250 sunny days a year. The geography is characterized by vast steppes, rugged mountains (the Altai and Khangai), and the Gobi Desert in the south. Mongolia has one of the lowest population densities in the world, with much of its population still practicing a nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyle. Historically, it was the center of the Mongol Empire, the largest contiguous land empire in history. The climate is extreme continental, with short, warm summers and long, brutally cold winters. It is rich in mineral resources like coal, copper, and gold. The horse is central to Mongolian culture, and the country is famous for the Naadam festival.