East Asia lies to the east of Central Asia, with its eastern border along the East China Sea. East Asia is politically divided into 7 countries: China, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau. It is also one of the most populated regions in the world, accommodating 22% of the people on planet Earth, with around 1.7 billion people. The geography of East Asia is varied depending on the area. The interior continental area experiences a temperate climate, while Mongolia is covered by the arid Gobi desert. China, the largest country in the region, housing mountains and plateaus, while Japan is characterized by its thousands of islands and coastlines.