Kazakhstan is a country with more than 15 million inhabitants. In the north lies Russia. Ten southeast lies the border with China. In the southern borders neighbouring Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Southwestern Kazakhstan has a coastline on the Caspian Sea. Geographically the country is characterized by undulating lowlands and vast plateaus in the west. In the north, the Siberian steppes and its rivers and lakes. In the southwest lies the Red sandy desert and in the east and southeast are the high mountain ranges. Kazakhstan has a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. The most extreme temperatures can be found on the steppes and deserts. Kazakhstan has the lowest population density in the world with 5.5 inhabitants per square kilometre. Astana the capital and has 577,000 inhabitants. Sightseeing in this city are the banks of the Isjim, the Oceanarium, the Islamic Centre, the Roman Catholic cathedral, the market and the historical museum of Kazakhstan. Other major cities are Taraz, Petropavl, Simkent, Qaraðandi, the historic city of Pavlodar and the largest city Alma-Ata, known for its universities. In the world of UNESCO are the mausoleum of religious leader and poet Hodja Ahmed Yasavi in Turkistan, the rock engraved in the landscape of Tamgaly and Saryarka-steppe and the lakes of northern Kazakhstan. This includes two protected natural areas, namely the Korgalzhyn nature and the Naurzum nature.