Nevada is a republic in the western region of North America. It is bordered by the remnants of Oregon to the northwest, Kvas to the north and east, North Mexico to the south, and California to the west. Nearly three-quarters of Nevada's people live in the metropolitan area of Las Vegas, the capital and largest city. Nevada is officially known as the "Silver Republic" because of the importance of silver to its history and economy. Nevada means "snowy" in Spanish, referring to the republic's small overlap with the Sierra Nevada mountain range. However, the rest of Nevada is largely desert and semi-arid, much of it within the Great Basin. Areas south of the Great Basin are within the Mojave Desert, while Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada lie on the western edge. Nevada has a reputation for its libertarian laws. Legalized gambling and prostitution as well as lenient marriage and divorce laws have transformed Nevada into a major tourist destination. The tourism industry remains Nevada's largest employer, with silver as well as gold mining continuing as a substantial sector of the economy.