Eugene is the third largest metropolitan area in Oregon, after Portland and Salem, with an estimated population of 148,595. The town, home to the University of Oregon, is located in Lane County, Oregon, about 60 miles east of the Oregon Coast. Positioned at the south end of the Willamette Valley, where the McKenzie and Willamette rivers join together, Eugene is widely known for its great outdoors, as well as its people's propensity towards sports and recreation (especially bicycling, rafting, and kayaking). Most of Oregon's important mountains, rivers or lakes are within a two-hour drive from Eugene. One of the name by which Eugene commonly goes is "Track Town, USA" or "The Track Capital of the World," due to the major athletic competitions held here yearly. Eugene is also renowned for its abundance of arts and culture. The residents of Eugene have a reputation for their liberal minds, political activism and overall alternative lifestyles.