Washington Dc Geography

Washington, D.C. is located at 38°53?42?N, 77°02?11?W (the coordinates of the Zero Milestone, on the Ellipse). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 68.3 square miles (177.0 km²). 61.4 square miles (159.0 km²) of it is land and 6.9 square miles (18.0 km²) of it (10.16%) is water.

Washington is surrounded by the states of Maryland (on its southeast, northeast and northwest sides) and Virginia (on its western side); it interrupts those states' common border, which is the Potomac River's southern shore both upstream and downstream from the District. The Potomac River as it passes Washington is virtually entirely within the District of Columbia border because of colonial riparian rights between Maryland and Virginia.

The District has three major natural flowing streams: the Potomac River, the Anacostia River and Rock Creek. The Anacostia River and Rock Creek are tributaries of the Potomac River. There are also three man-made reservoirs: Dalecarlia Reservoir, which crosses over the northwest border of the District from Maryland; McMillan Reservoir near Howard University; and Georgetown Reservoir upstream of Georgetown.

The highest point in the District of Columbia is 410 feet (125 m) above sea level at Tenleytown. The lowest point is sea level, which occurs along all of the Anacostia shore and all of the Potomac shore except the uppermost portion (the Little Falls - Chain Bridge area). The sea level Tidal Basin rose eleven feet during Hurricane Isabel on September 18, 2003.

The geographic center of the District of Columbia is located near 4th Street NW, L Street NW and New York Avenue NW (not under the Capitol Dome, as is sometimes said).

Geographical features of Washington, D.C. include Theodore Roosevelt Island, Columbia Island, the Three Sisters Islands and Hains Point.

Washington is in the northern periphery of the humid subtropical climate zone. Its climate is typical of the Mid-Atlantic U.S., with four distinct seasons. Summer tends to be hot and humid with daily high temperatures in July and August averaging in the high 80s to low 90s (in °F; about 30° to 33 °C). The combination of heat and humidity makes thunderstorms very frequent in the summer, some of which occasionally produce tornadoes in the area. The combination of heat and humidity can also be reminiscent of a true tropical climate. Spring and fall are mild with high temperatures in April and October averaging in the high 60s to low 70s (about 20 °C). Winter brings sustained cool temperatures and occasional heavy snowfall, however, light snowfall is common. Average highs tend to be in the low 40s (6 to 8 °C) and lows in the mid 20s (-5 to -2 °C) from mid-December to mid-February. While tropical cyclones (or their remnants) occasionally track through the area in late summer and early fall, they have often weakened by the time they reach Washington partly because of the city's inland location. Flooding of the Potomac River, however—caused by a combination of high tide, storm surge, and storm runoff—has been known to cause extensive property damage in Georgetown and Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.[15][16] Spring is generally the most favorable time of year, with low humidity, mild temperatures and blooming foliage. This period generally lasts from late March until mid May.

The average annual snowfall is 15 inches (381 mm) and the average high temperature in January is 41 °F (5 °C); the average low for January is 27 °F (-3 °C). The highest recorded temperature was 106 °F (41 °C) on July 20, 1930 and August 6, 1918 and the lowest recorded temperature was -15 °F (-26 °C) on February 11, 1899.[17]

Washington, D.C. has many natural areas and birdwatching spots inside the city. D.C.'s parks and natural areas include Anacostia Park, the United States National Arboretum, Rock Creek Park, the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Theodore Roosevelt Island, the C&O Canal, the Potomac River and the Anacostia River. The ubiquitous Federal presence and land management responsibilities in Washington, D.C. make the area a crucible for applied research and adaptive management for urban ecosystems such as the restoration of Kenilworth Marsh, a remnant of the original tidal marshes of Washington, D.C. on the Anacostia River. Despite its intensely urbanized landscape, the District of Columbia is a center for research on urban wildlife management, urban stream restoration, and the aquatic ecology of urban streams. The National Park Service's Center For Urban Ecology is a regional source of expertise and applied science on "land use change and urban development, habitat fragmentation, biodiversity and maintenance of ecosystem processes" for the region.

The Potomac River, flowing through Washington, D.C., has been called one of the wildest urban rivers in the Nation. The Potomac Gorge once surveyed by George Washington for a "Pawtomack" Canal that would allow barge traffic to bypass the "Great Falls" (at the boundary between the Piedmont and coastal plain) is considered one of the most significant natural areas in the entire National Park System. The river, once called a national disgrace by President Lyndon Johnson, is now home to a vibrant warm water fishery. Professional bass tournaments have been held within view of the Jefferson Memorial, and naturally reproducing Bald Eagles have returned to its banks.

Washington, D.C. is divided into four quadrants: Northwest, Northeast, Southeast and Southwest. The axes bounding the quadrants radiate from the U.S. Capitol building.

Washington Monument

White House

A view from the top of the Washington Monument in December of 1999. Looking East towards the Capitol Building, the Dome can be seen approximately 1.4 miles away. The Smithsonian Building can be clearly viewed on the right.

Fountain in the Dupont Circle neighborhood

National Cathedral