West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the West Yorkshire Urban Area conurbation which was established in 1974, after the passage of the Local Government Act, 1972. It has an estimated population of 2,808,900 and lies entirely within the historic county boundaries of Yorkshire, most notably including large parts of the South Pennines area of outstanding natural beauty, making it popular with tourists and outdoor enthusiasts alike. It encompasses an area of 3,808 square kilometres (1,468 sq.mi) and was initially formed from local government areas, which were, in turn, part of the administrative county of West Riding of Yorkshire.