Kazakhstan is the world's largest landlocked country and a transcontinental nation, with the majority of its territory in Central Asia and a smaller portion west of the Ural River in Europe. It is the ninth-largest country in the world. The capital city is Astana. Kazakhstan's landscape is dominated by the Kazakh Steppe—a vast region of open grasslands. It also features deserts like the Kyzylkum and the rugged Altai Mountains. The country shares the Caspian Sea to its west and the shrinking Aral Sea to its south. Kazakhstan is a major global producer of oil, gas, and uranium. Historically, it was a central part of the Silk Road. The population is ethnically diverse, with Kazakhs and Russians being the largest groups. The climate is extreme continental, with very hot summers and very cold winters. Kazakhstan is also home to the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the world's first and largest operational space launch facility.