Las Vegas is in the state of Nevada. It is the most populous city in the state and the county seat of Clark County. The city is located in a basin on the floor of the Mojave Desert and is surrounded by mountain ranges. The landscape is rocky and arid, with desert vegetation and wildlife. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city, known primarily for its gambling, shopping, fine dining, entertainment, and nightlife. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert and the second-largest in the Southwestern United States.