Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and is located in southeastern Scotland with its center near the southern shore of the Firth of Forth, an arm of the North Sea that thrusts westward into the Scottish Lowlands. The city and its immediate surroundings constitute an independent council area. The city and most of the council area, including the busy port of Leith on the Firth of Forth, lie within the historic county of Midlothian. However, the council area also includes an area in the northwest, around South Queensferry, in the historic county of West Lothian. Therefore, Edinburgh is located in the historic county of Midlothian.