Washington, D.C. Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! == Geography == {{Main|Geography of Washington, D.C.}} [[File:DC Cherry Blossom April 2018 03.jpg|thumb|The [[Washington Monument]] viewed from the [[Tidal Basin]] during the [[National Cherry Blossom Festival]] in April 2018]] Washington, D.C., is located in the [[Mid-Atlantic (United States)|Mid-Atlantic region]] of the [[East Coast of the United States|U.S. East Coast]]. The city has a total area of {{convert|68.34|sqmi|km2|sigfig=3}}, of which {{convert|61.05|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|7.29|sqmi|km2}} (10.67%) is water.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-10.pdf |title=District of Columbia: 2010 |access-date=December 22, 2015 |date=June 2012 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-date=June 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618075141/https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-10.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The district is bordered by [[Montgomery County, Maryland]], to the northwest; [[Prince George's County, Maryland]], to the east; [[Arlington County, Virginia]], to the west; and [[Alexandria, Virginia]], to the south. Washington is {{convert|38|mi|km}} from [[Baltimore]], {{convert|124|mi|km}} from [[Philadelphia]], {{convert|227|mi|km}} from [[New York City]], {{convert|242|mi|km}} from [[Pittsburgh]], {{convert|384|mi|km}} from [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]], and {{convert|439|mi|km}} from [[Boston]].{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} The south bank of the [[Potomac River]] forms the district's border with Virginia and has two major tributaries, the [[Anacostia River]] and [[Rock Creek (Potomac River tributary)|Rock Creek]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.potomacriver.org/2012/facts-a-faqs/faqs |title=Facts & FAQs |publisher=Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin |access-date=March 31, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813114925/http://www.potomacriver.org/2012/facts-a-faqs/faqs |archive-date=August 13, 2012}}</ref> [[Tiber Creek]], a natural watercourse that once passed through the [[National Mall]], was fully enclosed underground during the 1870s.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Grant III |first=Ulysses Simpson |year=1950 |journal=Records of the Columbia Historical Society |volume=50 |title=Planning the Nation's Capital |pages=43–58 |author-link=Ulysses S. Grant III}}</ref> The creek also formed a portion of the now-filled [[Washington City Canal]], which allowed passage through the city to the Anacostia River from 1815 until the 1850s.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Heine |first=Cornelius W. |year=1953 |title=The Washington City Canal |journal=Records of the Columbia Historical Society |volume=53 |pages=1–27 |jstor=40067664}}</ref> The [[Chesapeake and Ohio Canal]] starts in [[Georgetown (Washington, D.C.)|Georgetown]] and was used during the 19th century to bypass the [[Little Falls (Potomac River)|Little Falls]] of the Potomac River, located at the northwest edge of the city at the [[Atlantic Seaboard fall line]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nps.gov/choh/historyculture/index.htm |title=C&O Canal National Historic Park: History & Culture |access-date=July 3, 2008 |publisher=[[National Park Service]] |archive-date=June 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611121022/http://www.nps.gov/choh/historyculture/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The highest natural elevation in the district is {{convert|409|ft|m}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]] at [[Fort Reno Park]] in upper [[Northwest (Washington, D.C.)|northwest Washington, D.C.]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/17/AR2008041703859.html |title=D.C.'s Puny Peak Enough to Pump Up 'Highpointers' |last=Dvorak |first=Petula |date=April 18, 2008 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |pages=B01 |access-date=February 25, 2009 |archive-date=May 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504041548/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/17/AR2008041703859.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The lowest point is sea level at the Potomac River.<ref>{{cite book |last=Winegar |first=Deane |title=Highroad Guide to the Chesapeake Bay |year=2003 |publisher=John F. Blair |isbn=978-0-89587-279-1 |page=5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bMejFkODGIcC |access-date=June 16, 2015 |archive-date=September 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905233645/https://books.google.com/books?id=bMejFkODGIcC |url-status=live }}</ref> The geographic center of Washington is near the intersection of 4th and L streets NW.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usgs.gov/state/state.asp?State=DC |title=Science in Your State: District of Columbia |access-date=July 7, 2008 |date=July 30, 2007 |publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]] |archive-date=June 27, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080627001203/http://www.usgs.gov/state/state.asp?State=DC |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Reilly |first=Mollie |title=Washington's Myths, Legends, and Tall Tales—Some of Which Are True |url=http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/washingtons-myths-legends-and-tall-talessome-of-which-are-true/ |access-date=August 29, 2011 |newspaper=Washingtonian |date=May 12, 2012 |archive-date=April 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417214351/http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/washingtons-myths-legends-and-tall-talessome-of-which-are-true/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=legend>{{cite news |first=John |last=Kelly |title=Washington Built on a Swamp? Think Again. |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 1, 2012 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/washington-built-on-a-swamp-think-again/2012/03/31/gIQA7BfBpS_story.html |access-date=November 29, 2015 |archive-date=December 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209115258/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/washington-built-on-a-swamp-think-again/2012/03/31/gIQA7BfBpS_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The district has {{convert|7464|acre|km2}} of parkland, about 19% of the city's total area, the second-highest among high-density U.S. cities after [[Philadelphia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cloud.tpl.org/pubs/ccpe-city-park-facts-2011.pdf |title=2011 City Park Facts |year=2011 |publisher=[[The Trust for Public Land]] |access-date=December 9, 2011 |archive-date=January 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114132741/http://cloud.tpl.org/pubs/ccpe-city-park-facts-2011.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The city's sizable parkland was a factor in the city being ranked as third in the nation for park access and quality in the 2018 ParkScore ranking of the park systems of the nation's 100 most populous cities, according to [[Trust for Public Land]], a non-profit organization.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.parkscore.tpl.org/rankings.php |title=ParkScore |website=www.parkscore.tpl.org |language=en-US |access-date=May 23, 2018 |archive-date=May 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524003623/http://www.parkscore.tpl.org/rankings.php |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[National Park Service]] manages most of the {{convert|9122|acre|km2}} of city land owned by the U.S. government.<ref>{{cite web |title=Comparison of Federally Owned Land with Total Acreage of States |url=http://www.blm.gov/public_land_statistics/pls99/99pl1-3.pdf |publisher=Bureau of Land Management |access-date=July 19, 2011 |year=1999 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016174341/http://www.blm.gov/public_land_statistics/pls99/99pl1-3.pdf |archive-date=October 16, 2011}}</ref> Rock Creek Park is a {{convert|1754|acre|km2|adj=on}} urban forest in Northwest Washington, which extends {{convert|9.3|mi|km}} through a stream valley that bisects the city. Established in 1890, it is the country's fourth-oldest national park and is home to a variety of plant and animal species, including raccoon, deer, owls, and coyotes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rock Creek Park |url=http://www2.nature.nps.gov/geology/parks/rocr/index.cfm |work=Geology Fieldnotes |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=February 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130204002946/http://www2.nature.nps.gov/geology/parks/rocr/index.cfm |archive-date=February 4, 2013}}</ref> Other National Park Service properties include the [[Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park]], the [[National Mall and Memorial Parks]], [[Theodore Roosevelt Island]], [[Columbia Island (District of Columbia)|Columbia Island]], [[Fort Dupont Park]], [[Meridian Hill Park]], [[Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens]], and [[Anacostia Park]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nps.gov/state/dc/list.htm |title=District of Columbia |access-date=October 16, 2011 |publisher=[[National Park Service]] |archive-date=October 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016040110/http://www.nps.gov/state/dc/list.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation]] maintains the city's {{convert|900|acres|km2}} of athletic fields and playgrounds, 40 swimming pools, and 68 recreation centers.<ref>{{cite web |title=FY12 Performance Plan |url=http://oca.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/oca/publication/attachments/DPR12.pdf |publisher=D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation |access-date=February 3, 2013 |archive-date=May 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509090305/http://oca.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/oca/publication/attachments/DPR12.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[United States Department of Agriculture|U.S. Department of Agriculture]] operates the {{convert|446|acre|km2|adj=on}} [[United States National Arboretum]] in [[Northeast (Washington, D.C.)|Northeast Washington, D.C.]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usna.usda.gov/Information/historymissn.html |title=U.S. National Arboretum History and Mission |access-date=July 7, 2008 |date=October 16, 2007 |publisher=[[United States National Arboretum]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805235639/http://www.usna.usda.gov/Information/historymissn.html |archive-date=August 5, 2011}}</ref> === Climate === {{See also|Climate change in Washington, D.C.}} [[File:Francis Scott Key Bridge at the Washington DC USA river bank February 2004.jpg|thumb|[[Key Bridge (Washington, D.C.)|Key Bridge]] (background) and an iced-over [[Potomac River]] (foreground) in February 2004]] Washington's climate is [[humid subtropical climate|humid subtropical]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfa''), or [[Oceanic climate|oceanic]] ([[Trewartha climate classification|Trewartha]]: ''Do'' bordering ''Cf'' downtown).<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://opus.bibliothek.uni-augsburg.de/opus4/files/40083/metz_Vol_15_No_3_p259-263_World_Map_of_the_Koppen_Geiger_climate_classification_updated_55034.pdf |title=World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated |journal=Meteorologische Zeitschrift |volume=15 |issue=3 |pages=259 |date=November 6, 2008 |access-date=December 3, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224195637/https://opus.bibliothek.uni-augsburg.de/opus4/frontdoor/deliver/index/docId/40083/file/metz_Vol_15_No_3_p259-263_World_Map_of_the_Koppen_Geiger_climate_classification_updated_55034.pdf |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |bibcode=2006MetZe..15..259K |last1=Kottek |first1=Markus |last2=Grieser |first2=Jürgen |last3=Beck |first3=Christoph |last4=Rudolf |first4=Bruno |last5=Rubel |first5=Franz |doi=10.1127/0941-2948/2006/0130 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Peterson |first=Adam |title=English: Trewartha climate types for the contiguous United States |date=September 22, 2016 |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_trewartha.svg |access-date=March 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330195901/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_trewartha.svg |url-status=live |archive-date=March 30, 2019}}</ref> Winters are cool to cold with some snow of varying intensity, while summers are hot and humid. The district is in plant [[hardiness zone]] 8a near downtown, and zone 7b elsewhere in the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arborday.org/media/zones.cfm |title=Hardiness Zones |year=2006 |publisher=Arbor Day Foundation |access-date=November 4, 2008 |archive-date=June 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629141838/https://www.arborday.org/media/zones.cfm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="WaPo temps">{{cite news |last1=Samenow |first1=Jason |title=D.C.-area forecast: Temperatures seesaw this week between mild and cool, while extreme winter weather stays away |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/02/17/dc-area-forecast-temperatures-seesaw-this-week-between-mild-cool-while-extreme-winter-weather-stays-away/ |access-date=September 4, 2020 |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |date=February 17, 2020 |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809181652/https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/02/17/dc-area-forecast-temperatures-seesaw-this-week-between-mild-cool-while-extreme-winter-weather-stays-away/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Summers are hot and humid with a July daily average of {{convert|79.8|°F|1}} and average daily relative humidity around 66%, which can cause moderate personal discomfort. Heat indices regularly approach {{convert|100|°F|°C|0}} at the height of summer.<ref>{{cite news |title=Average Conditions: Washington DC, USA |work=BBC Weather |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/hi/about/newsid_9390000/9390415.stm?tt=TT001140 |access-date=August 30, 2010 |archive-date=October 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030134530/http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/hi/about/newsid_9390000/9390415.stm?tt=TT001140 |url-status=live }}</ref> The combination of heat and humidity in the summer brings very frequent thunderstorms, some of which occasionally produce tornadoes in the area.<ref>{{cite web |last=Iovino |first=Jim |title=Severe Storm Warnings, Tornado Watches Expire |url=http://www.nbcwashington.com/weather/stories/Cold-Front-Could-Bring-Storms-Today-95721304.html |work=NBCWashington.com |date=June 6, 2010 |access-date=August 30, 2010 |archive-date=May 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514174511/http://www.nbcwashington.com/weather/stories/Cold-Front-Could-Bring-Storms-Today-95721304.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Blizzards affect Washington once every four to six years on average. The most violent storms, known as [[nor'easter]]s, often impact large regions of the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]].<ref name=dcwinter>{{cite web |url=http://www.erh.noaa.gov/lwx/winter/DC-Winters.htm |title=Washington Area Winters |access-date=September 17, 2010 |last=Watson |first=Barbara McNaught |date=November 17, 1999 |publisher=National Weather Service |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231041158/http://www.erh.noaa.gov/lwx/winter/DC-Winters.htm |archive-date=December 31, 2010}}</ref> From [[Knickerbocker storm|January 27 to 28, 1922]], the city officially received {{convert|28|in|cm}} of snowfall, the largest snowstorm since official measurements began in 1885.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2016/01/23/where-snowzilla-fits-into-d-c-s-top-10-snowstorms/ |title=Where Snowzilla fits into D.C.'s top 10 snowstorms |last1=Ambrose |first1=Kevin |last2=Junker |first2=Wes |date=January 23, 2016 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |access-date=May 13, 2016 |archive-date=May 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508031823/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2016/01/23/where-snowzilla-fits-into-d-c-s-top-10-snowstorms/ |url-status=live }}</ref> According to notes kept at the time, the city received between {{convert|30|and|36|in|cm}} from a snowstorm in January 1772.<ref name=DOC>{{cite web |publisher=The Weather Doctor |url=http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/events/wjsnow1772.htm |title=The Washington and Jefferson Snowstorm of 1772 |first=Keith C. |last=Heidorn |date=January 1, 2012 |access-date=January 25, 2016 |archive-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124234846/http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/events/wjsnow1772.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Hurricanes or their remnants occasionally impact the area in late summer and early fall. However, they usually are weak by the time they reach Washington, partly due to the city's inland location.<ref>{{cite book |last=Schwartz |first=Rick |title=Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States |year=2007 |publisher=Blue Diamond Books |isbn=978-0-9786280-0-0 |page=9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t5U1CYKwQxcC |access-date=June 16, 2015 |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906000512/https://books.google.com/books?id=t5U1CYKwQxcC |url-status=live }}</ref> Flooding of the [[Potomac River]], however, caused by a combination of high tide, storm surge, and runoff, has been known to cause extensive property damage in the [[Georgetown (Washington, D.C.)|Georgetown]] neighborhood of the city.<ref>{{cite news |last=Vogel |first=Steve |title=Bulk of Flooding Expected in Old Town, Washington Harbour |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/27/AR2006062701527.html |date=June 28, 2006 |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=B02 |access-date=July 11, 2008 |archive-date=October 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014050903/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/27/AR2006062701527.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Precipitation occurs throughout the year.<ref name="WMO 1961–90 KDCA" /> The highest recorded temperature was {{convert|106|F|0}} on August 6, 1918, and on July 20, 1930.<ref name="Samenow">{{cite news |title=Washington, D.C. shatters all-time June record high, sizzles to 104 |first=Jason |last=Samenow |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 29, 2012 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/washington-dc-ties-record-high-of-101/2012/06/29/gJQAiiRmBW_blog.html |access-date=November 29, 2015 |archive-date=December 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209173449/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/washington-dc-ties-record-high-of-101/2012/06/29/gJQAiiRmBW_blog.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The lowest recorded temperature was {{convert|−15|F|0}} on [[Great Blizzard of 1899#Arctic cold|February 11, 1899]], right before the [[Great Blizzard of 1899]].<ref name="dcwinter" /> During a typical year, the city averages about 37 days at or above {{convert|90|F|0}} and 64 nights at or below the freezing mark ({{convert|32|F|C|disp=or}}).<ref name="NWS Baltimore/Washington (LWX)" /> On average, the first day with a minimum at or below freezing is November 18 and the last day is March 27.<ref>Grieser, Justin; Livingston, Ian (November 8, 2017). "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/11/08/the-falls-first-freeze-is-coming-saturday-and-for-most-of-the-d-c-area-its-historically-late/ The first freeze is coming Saturday and, for most of the D.C. area, it's historically late] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528215039/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/11/08/the-falls-first-freeze-is-coming-saturday-and-for-most-of-the-d-c-area-its-historically-late/ |date=May 28, 2018 }}". ''The Washington Post''.</ref><ref>Livingston, Ian; Grieser, Justin (April 3, 2018). "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2018/04/03/when-will-the-last-freeze-happen-around-the-d-c-region-and-when-is-it-safe-to-plant/ When will the last freeze happen around the D.C. region, and when is it safe to plant?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404044955/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2018/04/03/when-will-the-last-freeze-happen-around-the-d-c-region-and-when-is-it-safe-to-plant/ |date=April 4, 2018 }}" ''The Washington Post''.</ref> {{Clear}} {{Washington, D.C. weatherbox}} {{Graph:Weather monthly history<!--Edit on Commons--> | table=ncei.noaa.gov/weather/Washington, D.C..tab | title=Washington, D.C. weather }} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. 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