華盛頓特區英文簡介

華盛頓哥倫比亞特區(Washington D.C.)，簡稱爲華盛頓，美利堅合衆國的首都，靠近弗吉尼亞州和馬里蘭州，位於美國的東北部、中大西洋地區，是1790年作爲首都而設置、由美國國會直接管轄的特別行政區劃，因此不屬於美國的任何一州。

雖然紐約市及費城都曾任短暫的美國首府，但於1790年，國會選定哥倫比亞特區爲永遠的美國首府。喬治華盛頓也有幫忙挑選城市的位置。位於波多馬克河 (Potomac River) 的華盛頓特區，開拓之初的建地是取自馬里蘭州及維吉尼亞州的部分土地(位在河流南部的土地，也在1846年時，歸還給維吉尼亞州了)。

在法國出生的美國工程師、建築師及郊區設計師：朗方 (Pierre-Charles L'Enfant) 規劃了該市的基本藍圖，寬敞的大道以國會大廈所在的建築物爲中心，呈星狀向外射出，而周圍的街道則呈棋盤狀，其間有着一些圓環及公園。哥倫比亞特區這個名字是爲了表彰哥倫布 (Christopher Columbus) ，而着名的華盛頓特區，則是爲了彰顯美國的第一任總統。雖然國會大廈的第一期建設工程直到1826年才完工，國會的首次會議已於1800年在華盛頓召開。今日，華盛頓每年都涌入數以百萬計的人來一睹國會大廈、白宮、國會圖書館及市內的許多博物館及紀念 堂的風采。代表它的花朵是素有美國美人之稱的玫瑰。

Although New York City and Philadelphia each served briefly as the capital of the United States, in 1790, Congress chose the District of Columbia as the permanent seat of government. George Washington helped select the site for the city. Situated on the Potomac River, Washington, D.C., was originally carved out of land transferred from Maryland and Virginia (Virginia's portion south of the river was returned to that state in 1846).

French-born American engineer, architect, and urban designer Pierre-Charles L'Enfant designed the city's basic plan, which features wide avenues radiating from the Capitol building through a grid of streets with numerous circles and parks. The name District of Columbia honors Christopher Columbus, and the city's better-known name of Washington, honors the first president. Congress first met in Washington in 1800, although construction of the first phase of the Capitol was not completed until 1826. Today, millions come to Washington, D.C. each year to see the Capitol, the White House, the Library of Congress, and the city's many museums and monuments. The flower is the American beauty rose.

　　華盛頓特區的櫻花樹

想想看，到底是那些景點，讓華盛頓特區每年都可以吸引數百萬名的遊客。您也許會想到是紀念堂、白宮、國會大廈、國會圖書館。但您可曾想過，是否活的生物也可成爲主要的觀光景點?

許多美國人及國際觀光客會選在春天來臨時造訪華盛頓特區，以觀賞在蓄潮湖 (Tidal Basin) 及傑佛遜紀念堂 (Jefferson Memorial) 周圍開滿粉紅色及白色花朵的日本櫻花樹。這些櫻花樹是源自於1912年時，日本東京人民送給美國的禮物。1910年時，之前所贈送的2,000株櫻花樹全遭寄生蟲感染，只得全部銷燬。每年春天所舉辦的國家櫻花節 (National Cherry Blossom Festival) 是一個長達兩星期的慶祝活動，來自世界各地的數萬名遊客會涌入華盛頓特區，只爲欣賞這些開滿花朵的美麗樹木。

您曾看過這些動人的花朵嗎?

　　華盛頓特區英語介紹

When you think about the things that attract millions of visitors to Washington, D.C., each year, you probably think about the monuments, the White House, the Capitol, the Library of Congress. But have you ever thought about the living things that are also a major tourist attraction?

Many Americans and international tourists make a special visit to Washington, D.C., in the spring to see the blooming pink and white Japanese cherry trees that circle the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial. The trees were originally planted as a gift from the people of Tokyo, Japan, in 1912. In 1910, a previous donation of 2,000 cherry trees had to be destroyed after they were infested with insects. Each spring, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, a two-week-long celebration, attracts tens of thousands of visitors from around the world to see the magnificent trees in full bloom.

Have you ever seen these magnificent blossoms?