Sydney is the capital of the Australian state of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia. It was founded in 1788. It is located on the east coast of the country, where it is washed by the Pacific Ocean. It is bordered on the west by the Blue Mountains. Sydney has the largest natural harbor in the world, Port Jackson, as well as more than 70 beaches, including the world-famous Bondi Beach. It has an area of 1,687 km2 and the population of the metropolitan area exceeds 6 million. It is home to the Australian Stock Exchange, the Australian Central Bank and six universities. The most interesting places in Sydney are the Harbor Bridge, the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Tower. The city is one of the ten most visited cities in the world.