Basel-Stadt is a canton in northern Switzerland, situated on both sides of the Rhine where it forms a knee near the border with France and Germany. It is one of the country's smallest cantons by area, covering 37 square kilometers, and is traditionally considered a half-canton alongside Basel-Landschaft. The capital city of Basel serves as the administrative center for this densely populated region, which lies at the tripoint where Switzerland, France, and Germany meet in the middle of the Rhine.