What state is Washington, DC located in?
The city of Washington, District of Columbia is part of the state of the District of Columbia.A characteristic of a state or subject of a country is the possession of the integrity and interconnection of its constituent elements, including cities and other settlements included in the state.
The District of Columbia is an administrative division of the United States.
Population of the city of Washington (District of Columbia).
The population of the city of Washington (DC) is 658,893 people.What time zone is Washington, DC?
The city of Washington (DC) is located in the administrative time zone: UTC-5, in the summer UTC-4. This way, you can determine the time difference in Washington, DC, relative to the time zone in your city.Washington DC Area Code
Telephone code Washington (DC): +1 202. In order to call the city of Washington (DC) from a mobile phone, you need to dial the code: +1 202 and then the subscriber’s number directly.Official website of the city of Washington (DC).
Website of the city of Washington (DC), official website of the city of Washington (DC) or as it is also called “Official website of the administration of the city of Washington (DC)”: http://www.dc.gov/.Flag of the city of Washington (District of Columbia).
The flag of the city of Washington (DC) is the official symbol of the city and is presented on the page as an image.Coat of arms of the city of Washington (District of Columbia).
The description of the city of Washington (DC) presents the coat of arms of the city of Washington (DC), which is the distinctive sign of the city.Subway in Washington, DC.
The subway in the city of Washington (DC) is called the Washington Metro and is a means of public transport.Washington DC Metro ridership (Washington DC Metro Congestion) is 209.00 million annually.
The number of subway lines in the city of Washington (DC) is 6 lines. The total number of subway stations in Washington (DC) is 91. The length of subway lines or the length of subway tracks is: 189.60 km.
Washington is the capital of the United States. The city was named after George Washington, who became the country's first president and who became its founder.
Washington has a special status; it does not belong to any state and forms a federal district called Columbia. The city is located in the northeastern United States on the banks of the Potomac River. It borders two states: Virginia in the southwest and Maryland on all other sides. As of 2010, the population was 601,723 people. How main city country, Washington has enormous importance and influence in the political and administrative system of the state.
The American capital was designed by P. Lanfant in such a way that it could compete on equal terms with the best capitals of European states, and took its rightful place in the list of the most beautiful cities not only in the country, but also in the world.
Here is the residence of the head of state - the White House, the building of the main military department - the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill in a luxurious park there is the Capitol, where meetings of the American Congress are held. It is a collegial legislative body of the United States and is one of the five famous architectural monuments U.S.A. The Supreme Court building is also located nearby. The capital is concentrated a large number of various government buildings. There are over 170 foreign embassies whose headquarters are also located here.
Unlike other American cities, it has no skyscrapers. The explanation for this is simple: the law prohibits the construction of any buildings and structures that exceed the height of the Capitol building.
In addition to its significant political and administrative role, Washington is considered an equally important center of culture and education. About 80,000 students study at 15 universities. There is also a huge Library of Congress on the territory of the city. Its book collection includes more than 65 million books, manuscripts and other materials.
The capital of the country is a unique city in some ways. It perfectly combines grandiose monuments and spacious landscapes. Washington does not suffer from the dominance of high-rise buildings; there are many parks on its territory, the avenues are wide and spacious, and there are many architectural monuments. Its entire territory is divided into parts that converge at the Capitol building.
Based: 1790
Square: 177 km 2
Population: 601,723 people (2010)
Currency: U.S. $
Language: English
Official website: http://www.dc.gov
Current time in Washington:
(UTC -5)
The metropolis is not deprived of attractions. Most of them are located around the so-called Mall - a park area surrounded by the buildings of the Smithsonian museums. On its territory there is a sculpture garden, an art gallery and much more. The most famous Washington attractions are the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, the Space and Aeronautics Museum, the American Indian Museum and other monuments. In a word, tourists have something to see here. We recommend that you take a look at the section before your trip. photos and descriptions of US attractions in order to familiarize yourself and outline a cultural program in absentia.
How to get to Washington
The capital of the United States of America is located quite far from Russia - the distance from Moscow to Washington is about 8,000 kilometers. On the route Moscow - Washington, the flight time is approximately 10 hours 30 minutes (return - 9 hours 50 minutes). However, direct flights are not always financially profitable, or are not suitable for the schedule; in this case, it makes sense to use connecting flights, which take longer due to changing aircraft at the transfer airport. So how long to fly to Washington is up to you.
Most international flights arrive at Dulles Airport, and planes also land at Reagan Airport or at Thurgood Marshall Airport in neighboring Baltimore.
From Russia you can fly to Washington without a transfer only from Moscow on Aeroflot flights. But in terms of price, due to the lack of competitors, this flight is not the most attractive, so it makes sense to use options with connections. Below are the airlines operating flights from Russia to Washington (connection cities are indicated in brackets).
- Lufthansa (Frankfurt am Main): Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara.
- Austrian Airlines (Vienna): Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar.
- Air France (Paris): Moscow, St. Petersburg.
- KLM (Amsterdam): Moscow, St. Petersburg.
- Brussels Airlines (Brussels): Moscow.
- SAS (Copenhagen): Moscow, St. Petersburg.
- Swiss (Zurich or Geneva): Moscow, St. Petersburg.
- Turkish Airlines (Istanbul): Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Rostov, Ufa, Sochi, Novosibirsk.
- British Airways (London): Moscow, St. Petersburg.
- Emirates (Dubai): Moscow, St. Petersburg.
- Etihad (Abu Dhabi): Moscow.
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Transfers to Washington
Show transfers from Washington DC| Washington | from 4099 p. | |||
| Union Station Washington | Washington | from 5335 p. | ||
| Washington Dulles Airport | Washington | from 7352 p. | ||
| Washington | from 10606 p. | |||
| Baltimore | Washington | from 11387 p. | ||
| Richmond | Washington | from 30906 p. | ||
| Salisbury | Washington | from 40666 p. | ||
| Philadelphia | Washington | from 43139 p. | ||
| Newark Airport | Washington | from 52898 p. | ||
| Washington | from 52898 p. | |||
| Bernards | Washington | from 56152 p. | ||
| Jersey City | Washington | from 59405 p. | ||
| LaGuardia Airport | Washington | from 60902 p. | ||
| Manhattan | Washington | from 65066 p. | ||
| Long Island Macarthur Airport | Washington | from 65066 p. |
| Washington | Union Bus Station | from 4099 p. | ||
| Washington | Washington Ronald Reagan Airport | from 4099 p. | ||
| Washington | Union Station Washington | from 5335 p. | ||
| Washington | Washington Dulles Airport | from 7352 p. | ||
| Washington | Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport | from 10606 p. | ||
| Washington | Baltimore | from 11387 p. | ||
| Washington | Richmond | from 30906 p. | ||
| Washington | Salisbury | from 40666 p. | ||
| Washington | Philadelphia | from 43139 p. | ||
| Washington | New York John F Kennedy Airport | from 52898 p. | ||
| Washington | Newark Airport | from 52898 p. | ||
| Washington | Bernards | from 56152 p. | ||
| Washington | Jersey City | from 59405 p. | ||
| Washington | LaGuardia Airport | from 60902 p. | ||
| Washington | Manhattan | from 65066 p. | ||
| Washington | Long Island Macarthur Airport | from 65066 p. |
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Climate in Washington
The climate in Washington is humid subtropical. Throughout the year, there are four distinct seasons. Winter can be considered relatively cool, since the average temperature in January is 0 degrees, and this month is considered the coldest here. Sub-zero temperatures last no more than 64 days throughout the year. The city is characterized by weather with strong gusts of wind reaching gale force, frequent downpours, and snowfalls in winter. In spring and autumn there is little precipitation, and the days are mostly warm. Summer is hot and humid. This combination contributes to the occurrence of a storm or tornado. See temperature table below.
Weather in Washington by months
| Average max temperature, °C | Average min temp, °C | Water temperature, °C | Amount of precipitation, mm | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather in Washington in January | 9 | -2 | 3 | 70 |
| Weather in Washington in February | 10 | -1 | 3 | 70 |
| Weather in Washington in March | 15 | 3 | 8 | 70 |
| Weather in Washington in April | 19 | 8 | 12 | 70 |
| Weather in Washington in May | 24 | 14 | 18 | 100 |
| Weather in Washington in June | 29 | 19 | 23 | 80 |
| Weather in Washington in July | 31 | 22 | 27 | 90 |
| Weather in Washington in August | 30 | 21 | 28 | 80 |
| Weather in Washington in September | 27 | 17 | 26 | 80 |
| Weather in Washington in October | 20 | 10 | 18 | 70 |
| Weather in Washington in November | 15 | 6 | 11 | 80 |
| Weather in Washington in December | 9 | 0 | 5 | 80 |
Reviews by month
| January 5 March 5 | April 11 May 19 June 10 | July 6 August 11 September 3 | October 4 November 8 December 6 |
Transport
Washington has an excellent transport system. It is convenient and simple at the same time. The basis of public transport is the metro and buses. Although it would be correct to include bicycles here as well.
The capital's metro has a fairly large length, and in terms of load it is second only to the metro in New York. The bus network is also well developed and serves not only city routes, but also regional ones. Riding bicycles has become widespread in Washington, and can be rented at many points in the city at specially prepared stations. Bicycle rental is possible at different time, for example, for a day, five days or even a month and a year.
Modern Washington has roads of the highest quality. They have very dense traffic at any time of the day, since most residents have personal cars at their disposal and have little need for public transport. Guests of Washington are offered to rent cars for a certain period, and at a very reasonable price.
Photos of Washington
Washington neighborhoods
Foggy Bottom
This district is the oldest in Washington. It got its name due to the fact that smog and smoke from industrial enterprises, of which there were a lot here, constantly hung over it. Currently, it houses a naval observatory, a performing arts center and the University of Washington. Foggy Bottom previously housed the headquarters of American Presidents Kennedy and Truman.
During the daytime, the area is busy with education and government affairs. It is extremely comfortable. Work life leaves little room for fun. For relaxation, you can go to a few cafes or bars. A characteristic feature of Foggy Bothom is its convenient connection with other parts of the city: from here you can get to Georgetown in just a few minutes.
Georgetown
It was founded in the middle of the 18th century, and in 1871 it was annexed to Washington. Mostly high-ranking officials live here, and it is also loved by Hollywood stars. By the way, the stories of the Kennedy and Washington dynasties are connected with these areas. Georgetown is a place where there are many offices, business centers, residential apartments, restaurants and shops. In addition, a fairly large number of cultural and entertainment establishments are concentrated here.
Despite the fact that this area can be called old, Georgetown, however, still retains a youthful atmosphere, which is added to it by the nearby student area. Georgetown is distinguished by its special impeccability in everything - there is no cracked asphalt here, and the cleanliness is simply amazing.
Downtown Washington
This is, first of all, the center of business activity in Washington. It is in this area that a considerable number of offices of various organizations, law firms and commercial enterprises are concentrated. The headquarters of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are located in Downtown. Along with modern multi-storey buildings, there is also room for buildings from the last century, including the city hall building, erected back in 1881.
Judicial Square Area
Almost all legislative and legal activities of the city are concentrated in this place. The area was located in such a way that it was between the White House and the Capitol. As a result, the location turned out to be ideal from the point of view of locating government institutions.
Dupont Circle
Dupont Circle is located in the northwestern part of Washington and is a historic district of the US capital. It has a sufficient number of houses that were built back in the 19th century.
Despite the fact that there are no government offices here, this is where the city center feels. Dupont Circle is a well-lived and exemplary place, which is not entirely typical for a city with many out-of-towners. The energy here is in full swing 24 hours a day. Having come to have lunch, many visitors stay in the bars until closing. Local residents prefer to spend time relaxing in parks and watching all the fuss from the sidelines.
Glover Park
The tranquil atmosphere makes Glover Park a great place to stroll, dine, or meet at a bar. Glover Park is home to some embassies and successful business offices. Mostly middle-income people live here, who can afford to have nice and tidy houses. Of course, the area stands out for its individuality, and it is also the safest place in Washington.
Cleveland Park
Another quiet and, importantly, safe area of Washington with calm and green streets, but it is by no means boring. Cleveland Park's residents are primarily financially wealthy, and the area feels more like a suburb than part of a city. Favorite activities among local residents are outdoor recreation, barbecues, and evening meetings. Connecticut Avenue welcomes its visitors with vibrant restaurants and cafes that locals frequent. The family atmosphere of the area is created thanks to playgrounds for children and, in principle, excellent infrastructure.
Adams-Morgan
This area is popular not so much for its old buildings and quiet alleys, but for the opportunity to wander through local shops that sell handmade goods, dance the night away at parties in a large number of clubs, and in the early morning stop by one of the local pizzerias.
16 Street Heights
The appearance of this area is shaped by well maintained parks with picturesque lawns and rich story. It's the polar opposite of the neighboring Columbia Heights neighborhood. 16 Street tries not to attract too much attention to itself, so there is an atmosphere of comfort and complete tranquility here. Public transport does not move intensively, but lovers of shopping and active nightlife There's not much to do in this area, so it gets boring after sunset.
Anacostia
An area that is just gaining its popularity, but it can already be called the soul and heart of southeast Washington. In Anacostia, cozy homes juxtapose with abandoned neighborhoods, and magnificent old buildings are surrounded by sometimes overgrown lawns. Every year, many new bars and restaurants appear in this area, music venues and exhibition galleries open. This could not go unnoticed, and Washington residents, especially young people, gradually began to pay attention to Anacostia.
Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill is known primarily for the building of the US Congress, after which, in fact, it was named. Despite the fact that politicians deal with serious matters, there is also a place for relaxation. In this area of Washington, street fairs are often held, and there are also shops selling second-hand goods. This is a convenient place from which you can easily travel to any other area; it is easy to navigate here for tourists and just guests of the city.
Columbia Heights
More recently, large shopping centers, cinemas, clubs and restaurants began to open here. All this fits perfectly with the low-key places that characterized the former Columbia Heights neighborhood: graffiti-covered walls, diners, and family-style bakeries can still be seen in the old neighborhoods.
Washington, as the capital of the United States, simply cannot but have a solid list of interesting places to visit. In addition, unlike, for example, Miami or Los Angeles, tourists come to Washington specifically for cultural recreation. In terms of studying the history of the country, the formation of its modern statehood, and objects of pride, you cannot find a better city than Washington. A huge number of different museums (by the way, admission to which is free), the world-famous Capitol, the White House and much more.
Below is a list of Washington attractions, by following the links you can get more detailed information about a particular object - description, cost of tickets (if any), location diagram and possibilities of getting there by public transport, photographs, reviews of tourists, hotels nearby and much more.
Sights of Washington
Festivals, holidays, parades in Washington DC
Washington Parks
Washington Museums
Where to go in Washington
Attractions
Museums and galleries
Where to eat and drink
Entertainment
Parks and Recreation
Transport
Shops and markets
Private guides in Washington
Russian private guides will help you get acquainted with Washington in more detail.
Registered on the Experts.Tourister.Ru project.
Shopping in Washington
The capital of the United States is not the place where you can buy any exclusive and original things, handmade or with a small edition. Washington is, first and foremost, a city of standards. The entire local white-collar public follows exactly this rule. She dresses according to the principle of quality and branding. This also results in the price category, which is slightly higher here than in other cities. But the quality and brand shade immediately catch the eye.
Both the elite and numerous tourists have a certain weakness for antiques, especially for the interior. There is plenty of this in Washington. A fairly large number of shops and shops of this direction are found in the area called Capitol Hill. In addition, you can buy trinkets and rare sundries at retail outlets on Howard Avenue, in the states of Maryland (the streets of Ellicott City, Annapolis) and Virginia (the city of Alexandria, located a few kilometers from the capital) nearby Washington.
Washington has a large number of shops for every taste, selling everything from books and souvenirs to clothing from famous brands and antiques. Shopping centers, regular shops, and boutiques are available for shopping lovers. All of them, as a rule, are located near the main attractions of the city. There are establishments of this kind in almost any area. Most of them are located on Wisconsin Avenue and M Street. In the Dupont Circle area there are shops of a lower level, namely second-hand furniture stores and discount centers. African souvenirs can be found in Adams Morgan, and an old mansion in the King Street area has magnificent antique shops and an art showroom.
Georgetown is rightfully considered one of the largest trade areas in Washington. Exactly this the best place, where not only locals, but also city guests traditionally have a good time. Thus, the Georgetown Park Shops mall occupies the entire block, located at 3222 M Street and intersecting with Wisconsin Avenue. The retail space occupies as many as four rooms. Over 70 shops have set up their counters there. You won’t be able to find a sale there, but there are always only branded and high-quality products here.
For lovers of aesthetic and elegant shopping, we recommend the shopping arcades at Union Station. In fact, this is Train Station, but on its territory you can visit 130 shops, restaurants, cinemas, which are decorated with wood or bronze, and some of them, even gold. The decoration of the establishments matches the goods sold in them. It is elegant, damn beautiful and attractive to the buyer, and most importantly, it is even somewhat cheaper than in other similar places.
Next major center trade or shopping area, located in Mazza Gallerie. Those who are not indifferent to fashionable things and have a soft spot for them simply must visit here. It is located along Wisconsin Avenue, in the Chevy Chase area, which borders Maryland. This is a shopping area with four floors of the latest fashion items. Nearby there is a pavilion with boutiques in original design. Moving further along this street, you come across famous and fashionable stores such as Gianni Versace or Brooks Brothers.
There are also a number of shopping centers in the suburbs of the US capital. Among them, we can highlight the Fashion Center, located opposite the Pentagon. It has 170 stores, including the well-known Macy's and Nordstrom.
The largest shopping center is Tysons Corner Center. It is located away from the central part of the city, almost beyond the ring road. This center features branches of five of the most popular superstores: Bloomingdale's, Hecht's, Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor, JCPenney. Tysons Galleria is located very close, literally across the street. Along with boutiques, the giants of the trading system - Sacks Fifth Avenue and some others - also took their place.
A number of well-known trading houses have their own branches. An example is Macy's. On 10th Street there is a huge building with four floors, where lovers of shopping and shopping can spend the whole day with interest.
Literature lovers also have places to visit. Great books are at Barns & Nobile. This is a book salon. In addition to this kind of stores, literature is sold in museums and memorials that have their own book rows. Here you have a great opportunity to choose not only traditional souvenirs, but also very original ones, characteristic only of this museum. The Spy Museum and the News Museum stand out in this area.
Located among the majority memorable places In Washington, stalls will delight tourists with traditional souvenirs and knitted shirts.
As for the sale, in the USA it has been worked out to perfection. They are held on holidays, and seasonal discounts are widespread. During this period, all people who have absolutely different levels income seek to get into shops, shopping centers or boutiques. During this period, even very expensive things become affordable for most residents. It's a kind of national sport - going to the sale.
Popular shopping centers in Washington DC
- Bookstore Kramerbooks
Food and drink
Washington can easily be called a gourmet city. This is explained very simply. There are not very many permanent residents in the capital, but throughout the day the number of people living here is very decent. This is due to the fact that entire teams of civil servants, high-ranking officials, and so on come to live in Washington. Quite a lot of visitors come to Washington on business trips or as tourists. They all prefer their favorite cuisine, but they don’t mind trying something new. It is this fact that contributes to the diversity of existing restaurants with all kinds of cuisines from around the world. Some specialize in one cuisine, others combine several. In the US capital, which ranks first in the country in terms of the ratio of the number of restaurants and cafes to the number of visitors, there are mostly expensive establishments. This is due to the fact that people have the opportunity and, most importantly, are willing to pay for high-quality and deliciously prepared food.
Washington is not much different from other cities in terms of food. Breakfast is standard and includes scrambled eggs or scrambled eggs with sausages, bacon, fried potatoes, and ham. The hotel restaurant will offer up to ten types of scrambled eggs, various salads, and no less traditional drinks include juice or coffee. You can also take oatmeal or cornflakes.
Second breakfast, or lunch, as it is commonly called, falls between 12-14 hours. Its most popular variant is soup and one of the types of burger (hamburger, cheeseburger and their brothers). Ordering by phone is considered very common. This method is used mainly in offices. As for the kitchen, it can be any. For dinner, Americans prefer a first course in the form of soup, a second course, salads, etc.
Main national dish there was and remains a hamburger in its various manifestations, and among drinks there is no equal to Coca-Cola, with which this very hamburger is washed down. However, this does not mean that there is nothing to eat in Washington other than what is mentioned. There are many people here who love to eat deliciously and a lot, so there is an abundance of restaurants national cuisine not surprising. In addition to them, the city has a lot of restaurants serving Chinese, Japanese, French, Italian and a number of other world cuisines. Visiting a restaurant here is not a special event. Most of the population dine there several times during the week, or even every day. As a rule, Americans have their own favorite restaurants. Residents of Washington are no exception.
Beverages
Residents of the United States and Washington in particular have two main drinks: coffee and Coca-Cola. I think there is no point in explaining what Coca-Cola means, but coffee, which Americans drink in incredible quantities, has nothing in common with this drink in Italy, France or Turkey. Therefore, finding a place in Washington where they can truly brew coffee is very difficult.
Restaurants
The vast majority of restaurants offer excellent service and delicious cuisine. Best restaurants Washington are located in the city center and its districts such as Adams Morgan, Dupont Circle, Georgetown. Each of them has their own place to be proud of. For example, the Red Sea restaurant, which offers its customers Ethiopian cuisine, or Ben's Chili Bowl, with its unique friendly atmosphere and beautiful interior. The pride of Dupont Circle is the Obelisk restaurant. It is the best among restaurants offering Italian cuisine. And among French restaurants, Citronelle from Georgetown has no competition.
Luigi's Pizza restaurant located in the center of Washington is considered a favorite place for tourists. This is a great place to grab a bite to eat while exploring the local attractions. The name itself indicates that the signature dish here is pizza. Other areas are not far behind these areas. Foggy Bottom, Woodley Park, and Capitol Hill also boast first-class restaurants. The Kinkid restaurant offers seafood dishes, the highlight of the Lebanese Taverna restaurant will be rustic cuisine, and Montmarte will delight gourmets with chic dishes French cuisine, and at very affordable prices.
In other words, no matter what place or area of Washington tourists find themselves in, they can always find a wonderful and cozy restaurant to suit their taste.
Essential Washington Restaurants
- Bistro Bis
You can call from them using prepaid cards, credit cards or coins. From the machines it is possible to make international calls or within the country. With the advent of modern communication technologies, telephone booths have become less in demand, and the cost of a call has become more expensive. The average cost of a call per minute is 5 cents. You can buy cards to pay for calls in the store, mall and a gas station, pharmacy, newsstand. The price of such a card for 100 minutes of conversation is $5.
Calls from telephones located in hotels are much more expensive. They will charge you $1 for a minute of conversation, and about $8 for an international call.
As for mobile communications, they are of excellent quality in the city and are quite confidently replacing landline phones from use. For full roaming to work in Washington, you need a tri-band phone.
To call Washington from Russia from a landline number, you must first dial 8, and after the dial tone - 10-1-202 and the number of the called subscriber. From a mobile phone you need to call like this: +1-202- phone number. From Washington to Russia - 011 - country code (7) - city code - telephone number. From a mobile phone - just +7 - area code - phone number.
Internet and Wi-Fi
In Washington, Internet access is available in almost any hotel. Wi-Fi is very common in restaurants and fast food outlets in Washington. There are a sufficient number of available Wi-Fi points throughout the city, both paid and free.
First of all, tourists arriving in the US capital are interested in the option with free Wi-Fi. But where to look for it? One option is a library. All you have to do is go to any one and get yourself a visitor’s card. If you don’t have a laptop with you, you’ll have to wait in line until a space becomes available, and use will be limited to 30-40 minutes. But its presence will save you from this. In this case, there is no need to wait in line, and to access the network you just need to find a convenient place and connect to free Wi-Fi. The interesting thing is that around the libraries themselves, the Internet practically does not disappear, even after they are closed. If you need to work in the evening or at night, just come to the library building and connect to the network using Wi-Fi. What is typical is that there is no loss of speed.
Another option for free internet access is parks. In order to find Wi-Fi coverage in park areas, you need to wander around a little and choose a place. Parks are among the places where you can find free Wi-Fi.
3G Internet is very popular in Washington and is used almost everywhere. Currently, 4G Internet has begun to actively develop.
To use the World Wide Web in the US capital, it is much more profitable to purchase a local SIM card and choose the optimal tariff. In addition, it can be used to make calls within the country.
Safety
Back in the early 90s, Washington was among the leaders among American cities in terms of crime - the city had a large number of murders and violence compared to other US cities. But by the end of the 20th century the situation in the American capital had changed radically better side, and the number of serious crimes began to decline. However, this does not mean that everything has become all right in the city.
Like many major cities, Washington is struggling to combat drug trafficking and organized crime. In the northwestern areas of the city, which are richer and more respectable, the crime rate is significantly lower than in the poorer ones located in the east.
After the memorable events of 2001, new security measures were introduced in the US capital. Tourists who come to see Washington are not in danger if they follow the usual norms and rules of behavior. But large bags can cause some interest from the security service, especially in the subway.
If we talk about the criminal situation in general, then it is at a completely acceptable level for such a city. However, you should never let your guard down, because it is possible that you could become a victim of an ordinary pickpocket or fall for the bait of various kinds of scammers. In addition, you should not get carried away with night walks in those areas that are notorious - this increases the likelihood of meeting night robbers.
The main concerns of tourists coming to Washington are related to possible robbery or deception. In order to avoid this, or reduce the risk of such a situation to a minimum, there are sets of safety rules. Their implementation will provide the tourist with a quiet life.
Robberies in Washington are quite common, but criminals act very carefully. This is greatly helped by allowing US citizens to carry weapons. To avoid a conflict situation during robbery, be sure to have a small amount of money with you. As a rule, it is enough to give the robbers no more than $50 and the issue will be resolved. Behave calmly in this situation, otherwise the attacker will think that you are trying to get a gun.
If danger arises when meeting robbers, you should not run away, scream, and even more so, get into a fight with them. After paying the minimum amount of money, immediately contact the police by calling 911 or taking a taxi to the nearest police station, where a report will be drawn up.
Sometimes things are stolen from hotel rooms. True, this applies mostly to motels.
Since credit cards are very common in Washington, as well as in the United States as a whole, there are also plenty of people who want to take possession of them. Bank card fraud is very common. Be on alert, when withdrawing cash, make sure that there are no suspicious persons nearby, close the PIN code entry with your hand, have a duplicate card and bank phone number.
Be careful in your expressions. Exclude the following words from your vocabulary: Negro, black and similar to them. And then troubles (at least from the black population) will pass by.
Try not to wear luxury items or use expensive equipment in plain sight. If possible, do not show how full your wallet is, do not look into crowds of people tourist map, by which it is easy to determine that you are a foreigner. Avoid appearing on city streets while intoxicated. If there is a need or desire to use a car, then take only a taxi. Never get into unfamiliar cars.
To ensure that your stay in Washington leaves only positive emotions, you should remember the following personal safety measures:
- When walking, walk along busy streets, try to avoid dark and back streets or parks;
- there is no need to attract attention with a large amount of money and putting expensive jewelry on public display;
- the safest place for a wallet is an inside pocket, and women should carry their bag tightly against the body, but should never be carried by the handles;
- when using an ATM, you should be very careful and not take out your card in advance;
- It is better to wear only comfortable shoes;
- if you feel that someone is following you, find a busy place and seek help;
- taking advantage public transport, try to choose stops that are well lit in the evening and are busy; Go to the service for selecting and booking a hotel in Washington.
Washington administratively makes up the District of Columbia. To avoid confusion with the state of Washington, which is located on west coast USA, the special abbreviation “Washington DC” is used. Washington DC is located in the northeastern United States. It stands on the banks of the Potomac River. The city borders the state of Virginia on the southwest side, and on all other sides - with the territories of the state of Maryland.
In 2009, the population of Washington was almost 600 thousand people. But on weekdays, when many people come to work in the city, the total number exceeds 1 million people. The Washington metropolitan area also includes the District of Columbia. This metropolitan area is the 8th largest in the United States in terms of population. The so-called “Greater Washington” region is home to about 5.4 million people.
The White House is located in Washington - the residence of the US President, many government buildings and institutions, and the US Senate and Congress hold their meetings here. Also in Washington is the Pentagon, embassies of more than 170 foreign countries, a large number of headquarters, including the headquarters of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and many large corporations.
Washington's history as the capital of the United States began in 1790, when it was decided to establish a permanent state capital. Based on security requirements, it was necessary to select a territory that was not part of any state. Such a place on the banks of the Potomac River was personally identified by US President George Washington, and in 1991 the capital received official name in honor of the president.
A square territory was chosen with a total area of about 260 square kilometers (the length of the side of the square was 10 miles). It was first called "Columbus Territory" because the poetic name for the United States at that time was "Columbia."
Since 1800, Washington officially became the new capital of the state, and the first meeting of Congress was held there. The District of Columbia was taken under congressional control in 1801 and acquired official status. Part of the District of Columbia territory was transferred to the State of Virginia in 1846. So the outlines of the district lost their regular square shape. Today, the area of the district is approximately 177 square kilometers.
Washington is headed by a mayor. But the US Congress has the right not to approve any document adopted by the mayor or city council. That is, formally, residents of the District of Columbia have fewer opportunities for self-government.
Washington's economy is very diverse and growing. The bulk of it belongs to the United States government. The Washington area produces a total product valued at approximately $97 billion. In order to be closest to the federal government, labor organizations, lobbyists, legal and manufacturing companies are concentrated in Washington.
The unemployment rate in Washington is 12% (2010 data). At the same time, about 27% of all jobs are provided by the state. Washington is ahead of the 50 states in terms of annual per capita income, but at the same time, 19% of residents live below the poverty level.
The main achievements in the planning and design of Washington belong to Pierre Lanfant, a French architect. Spacious avenues, large park areas, majestic monuments were built according to Lanfang's designs. The city is divided into quadrants converging on the Capitol, the building of the US Congress.
Washington's grand buildings blend with vast landscapes to make the city unique. The most high point The Washington Monument remains in the city; the urban space is not cluttered with skyscrapers.
African Americans make up the overwhelming majority of Washington residents—more than 55%. Residents of Asian origin make up approximately 3%, whites make up more than 36%. In the 1970s, there were even more African Americans in the city - about 70%.
About 8% of all adults in the District of Columbia are sexual minorities. According to 2007 data, approximately one third of the county's residents cannot write fluent English. In Colombia, this figure is much worse than in the United States as a whole, where one in five residents have similar problems. However, in Washington, nearly half of the adult population attended at least 4 years of college.
At the end of the 20th century, Washington was overwhelmed by a wave of street violence and crime. But in recent years, the crime rate has dropped significantly. In 2009, the number of murders fell to 143 (compared to 479 in 1991). This is the lowest level since the 1960s.
Washington's climate is humid subtropical, with four distinct seasons throughout the year. In summer the city experiences humid and hot weather. This contributes to the formation of tornadoes and storms. The air temperature exceeds +32 degrees more than 36 days a year. Spring and autumn are characterized by warm weather and low precipitation. Winter is relatively cool, the average temperature in January is approximately 0 degrees. Temperatures drop below zero on average 64 days a year.
For a long time, the United States did not have a capital as such. The status of the main city, for various reasons, passed from one city to another. For a long time, Philadelphia was the capital, but in 1783, after a riot by soldiers who demanded their salaries for the period of the Revolutionary War, the situation changed a little. At that time, Congress was in Philadelphia, which demanded that the state authorities deal with the rebels and provide them with normal working conditions. But the governor refused, citing the fact that one state should not ensure the functioning of the government of the entire state.
This incident, the Pennsylvania Mutiny, sparked serious discussions about the creation of a US capital. On January 23, 1788, it was decided to create a city where Congress would be located, and it should be independent of any of the states. But where the capital should be was not specified by the Constitution.
Several northern states, such as Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and New York, have offered their territories to have the capital near one of major cities. The southern states believed that the capital should be somewhere closer than the northern regions of the state. Alexander Hamilton proposed that if the southern states paid off most of the debt to the population, then the capital would be theirs; James Madison and Thomas Jefferson supported such an initiative, due to the large debts of the northern states. But the quarrels continued.
On July 16, 1790, a compromise was accepted that the capital of the United States would be in the area chosen by George Washington. Initially, the territory of the future capital was supposed to be square with a length of 10 miles, and Washington wanted to include in its capital hometown Alexandria. That's why he chose a place between the states of Maryland and Virginia, on the banks of the Potomac River.
And on September 9, 1791, it was decided to name the future capital city in honor of George Washington. And the district that reports directly to Congress is called Columbia, in honor of the female image that personifies the country.
Modern District of Columbia
According to the US Constitution, Congress has the highest executive power in the district. But the problems the city has faced throughout history forced the authorities to create a municipal council that deals with the problems of the district. But all decisions of the municipal council can be overturned by Congress without special procedures.
All US authorities are located in the district: in the White House - the President, in the Capitol - Congress, the Supreme Court, the FBI and CIA, as well as all departments. The only exception is the Department of Defense, which is based in a neighboring state in the Pentagon.
Although it is correct to say the District of Columbia, most Americans call their capital Washington, but in order not to be confused with the state of the same name, they make a small amendment - Washington DC.
Elizaveta Antipova
Washington (Washington, D.C.) is the capital of the United States of America. Located in the Federal District of Columbia. The city has enormous historical value and plays a special role in the development of American culture.
City `s history
The city was originally planned as a capital city. Washington traces its history as an independent city back to 1790, when the first President of the United States of America, General George Washington, personally chose the location for the capital of the new state. Around the future capital it was necessary to define a territory that was not part of any state. George Washington drew a diamond on that spot and wrote “District of Columbia” inside it. Federal City" The location of the city was not chosen by chance. The first president logically reasoned that the US capital should be located on neutral territory between Virginia and Maryland. And not a single state in the country could lay claim to this territory. The lands required by the capital were chosen in the form of a square with a side of 10 miles ( total area 260 sq. km). The area was first called "Columbus Territory" because Columbia was the poetic name for the United States at the time. Now the area of the district is 177 sq. km, and its shape has lost the shape of a regular square.
Washington received official status as the capital in 1800, when the first meeting of the US Congress was held here. Until this moment, the main city of America was Philadelphia. In addition, for one year the capital was New York. In 1846, part of the District of Columbia territory was transferred to the State of Virginia.
The city was designed by the French architect and engineer Pierre Lanfant. He conceived a unique and rather unusual plan for the American capital. The city was divided into regular squares, with the Capitol as the center. It turned out that the cultural and historical center of the city is a kind of cross, from which extend streets named after the 13 first colonies. A resolution was then passed that no building in the city should be taller than the dome of the Capitol. The most interesting thing is that this resolution is still in force and thanks to this, very beautiful and picturesque views open from any part of the city.
Geographical position
The city is located on three rivers - the Potomac, as well as its tributaries: Rock Creek and Anacostia. Washington is famous for its many parks; one fifth of the entire city territory is occupied by all kinds of green spaces.
Washington todayWashington is very unique and in its appearance does not resemble others big cities America. The city has a varied architectural style. In this regard, Washington is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the USA. There are many historical and architectural monuments concentrated here: most of which are located in the city center.
Due to special subordination, city residents have less freedom of self-government than residents of the states. The White House is the residence of the country's president, and the US Congress building is located on Capitol Hill. Washington is also home to the representative offices and headquarters of the World Bank, the IMF and many other organizations, as well as more than 150 embassies of various countries. The population of Washington is 601,723 people, but a large number of people from the suburbs come here to work every day, and of course, many tourists. As a result, the population increases to 1 million people and even higher. However, the spirit of bureaucratic respectability is still felt in the city, because 15% of the permanent population of Washington are officials.
1) The Washington Monument is a granite obelisk lined with Maryland marble weighing 91 thousand tons and 169 meters high. It was erected in 1848-1884. in Washington, between the White House and the Capitol, designed by Robert Mills, as a monument to the first US President, George Washington. Before construction Eiffel Tower was the tallest structure on Earth. An interesting fact is that on the eastern side, on the top of the monument, 2 Latin words “Laus Deo” are carved, which means “Praise God”. Every new day in the US capital begins with the first ray of sun illuminating this inscription.
2) Washington is the second largest and most important center of Catholicism after the Vatican. There are seminaries, monasteries, and Catholic universities here. Church of the Immaculate Conception - one of the largest in the world Catholic churches. And the Cathedral itself is distinguished by its magnificent architectural design.
3) The Capitol is the tallest building in the city. Is the center of Washington. Named by analogy with the ancient Roman temple Capitol. It is important to note that the first stone on the site of the Capitol was laid by George Washington himself in 1793. Today it is one of the city's landmarks.
4) The city's motto is the Latin "Justitia Omnibus", which translates as "Justice for all".
5) Out of the top ten American buildings according to the American Institute of Architects, six are located in Washington: the White House, Washington Cathedral, Jefferson Memorial, Capitol, Lincoln Memorial and Vietnam Veterans Memorial
6) Surprisingly, in the 1990s, Washington was considered one of the most dangerous cities in the United States due to the highest crime rate in the country. Since then, the crime rate in the country has almost halved, so now the city is quite safe to live in, although certain problems still remain.
