Washington D.C.

the capital of the USA (about 650 000, metropolitan area – 5,6 mil people) the Potomac River (between Maryland and Virginia) D.C. = district of Columbia, not a part of a state the seat of the federal government, the President, the Congress and the Supreme Court capital since 1800 (G. Washington chose the site of the city in 1791) = named in honour of G. Washington Philadelphia was the nation’s capital till 1800

White House 132 rooms, some of them are open to the public the seat of every US president except for G. Washington 132 rooms, some of them are open to the public http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/funnyvideos/youtube/president-morph.htm

The Capitol the seat of the Congress since 1800 the House of Representatives Wing - in the south the Senate Wing - in the north the bronze Statue of Freedom on the top

The Washington Monument most famous landmark, the tallest structure in Washington - 170m white marble obelisk in the middle of the Mall (a huge park in the centre) dedicated to the memory of the first US president

The Jefferson Memorial the bronze statue of T. Jefferson holding the Declaration of Independence

The Lincoln Memorial dedicated to Abraham Lincoln (the president during the Civil War 1861 – 1865)

Vietnam War Memorial the names of almost 60 000 people who were killed or disappeared in the Vietnam War names inscribed on the polished black granite walls

National World War II Memorial the newest monument, opened in 2004 dedicated to Americans who served in the armed forces as well as civilians during WW II (56 granite pillars, 2 arches)

The Pentagon 23 thousand employees work there the seat of the headquarters of the Department of Defense 23 thousand employees work there

Arlington National Cemetery thousands of military veterans from all the nation’s wars are buried here from the American Revolution to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan