Located on the Potomac River between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, Washington is known for its hot, humid summers, pleasant springs and autumns, and mild winters with seasonal snowfall averaging just over 17 inches. Carved from south-central Maryland, Washington is bordered on three sides by that state and sits across the Potomac River from Virginia on its fourth side. The District is also divided by the Anacostia River and Rock Creek. One fourth of the District is park land. The city is divided artificially into four quadrants: northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest.
Area: 68.3 square miles (2000)
Elevation: Ranges from 40 to 410 feet above sea level
Average Temperatures: January, 36.0° F; August, 77.0° F; annual average, 54.0° F
Average Annual Precipitation: 39.73 inches (including 17.3 inches of snow)