Chapter 2: Geographic Patterns of the Physical Environment

"The physical environment, modified by human effort, impinges on our lives regardless of where we live."--Regional Landscapes of the United States and Canada.

This chapter focuses on the physical features of the United States including:
1. Topography
2. Mountains
3. Climate
4. Natural/Mineral Resources

In the post below I will delve into Washington D.C.'s physical environment in regards to these specific topics.


Here's a quick video overview of D.C.

Topography and Mountains
Geographers find the topography of Washington D.C. to be very similar to its neighboring Maryland. The highest point in D.C. is 410 feet above sea level at Fort Reno in Tenleytown. Washington D.C. doesn't have any major mountain ranges running through it, but rather have mountains surrounding it. According to weather forcast.com, the closest mountain peak is 56 km away in Maryland, called Sugarloaf Mountain.

Fort Reno in D.C.

Sugarloaf Mountain 

in Maryland

The district has three natural rivers: The Potomac River, the Anacostia River, and Rock Creek. The coming together of the Anacostia and the Potomac is called Arsenal Point. Also in the District is the Washinton Channel, which flows into the junction of the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers. D.C. has three man-made reservoirs: Dalecarlia Reservoir, the McMillan Reservoir, and Georgetown Reservoir.

The Potomac running through D.C.

The lowest point in D.C. is sea level at the shore of the Anacostia and Potomac river shores. Additionally, Washington D.C. also features some great geographical features including Theodore Roosevelt Island--an island turned national park in the Potomac River, Columbia Island--another island in the Potomac and recently renamed Lady Bird Johnson Park, The Three Sisters--three rocky islands in the Potomac west of the Key Bridge, and Hains Point--the peninsula looking but truly island part of land on the southern tip of East Potomac Park.

Surprisingly, it was very hard to find topographic maps of Washington D.C.

Climate
Washington D.C. is located in the Humid Subtropical Zone on the Koppen classification scale. It's climate is very similar to Mid-Atlantic U.S. areas that are removed from a body of water.
Unlike California, Washington D.C.'s weather varies greatly within the seasons. The city typically experiences extreme variations between summer and winter.

A D.C. Climagraph

Summers tend to be very hot and humid, with the heat made even worse in the heart of the city because of its vast area of concrete and steel. Daily temperatures in the summer average 79.2 with 66% humidity. The coalition of humidity and heat brings together frequent summer thunderstorms which can occasionally cause tornados.

A cold winter's day in Washington D.C.

The winters are typically pretty cold, and the city is often subject to heavy snowfalls with up 17 inches a year. Winter temperatures from December to February average 38 degrees. During winter the D.C. is also subject to sudden arctic blasts, frozen rain storms, or blizzards.

July is typically the warmest month and January is typically the coldest. The highest recorded temperature in the city was 106 degrees Fahrenheit on July 20, 1930 and the coldest recorded temperature was -15 degrees Fahrenheit  February 11, 1899.

Natural/Mineral Resources

Much of Washington D.C's natural resources and vegetation has been preserved in national parks.

Rock Creek Park      

Rock Creek Park--located in Northwestern D.C. It is one of the oldest national parks and is twice as big as New York's Central park, with its acreage totaling 1,755 acres. Not only does the park protect the area's ancient beauty and plants, it also has the only surviving water-powered grist mill on the Potomac, the Pierce Mill, and two Civil War Forts.

The U.S. National