At about 1.7 million people call Hamburg their home making it the second-largest city in Germany after the capital city Berlin. It is one of the 16 states that make up Germany and enjoys some additional rights due to its special state as a "Freie und Hansestadt". It is a popular misconception that Hamburg is situated next to the sea. In reality, at about 80 km separate it from the sea. It is, however, connected to the sea by the river Elbe.