Tidal Basin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tidal Basin (District of Columbia) |
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Tidal Basin
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 Tidal Basin (District of Columbia)
Location in the District of Columbia
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| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| Coordinates | 38°53′03″N 77°02′21″W / 38.88417°N 77.03917°W |
| Type | Artificial |
| Primary inflows | Potomac River 38°52′49″N 77°02′25″W / 38.88028°N 77.04028°W |
| Primary outflows | Washington Channel 38°52′58″N 77°01′59″W / 38.88278°N 77.03306°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 107 acres (0.43 km2) |
| Average depth | 10 feet (3.0 m) |
| Surface elevation | 3 feet (0.91 m) |
The Tidal Basin is a special, partly man-made pond in Washington, D.C.. It sits between the Potomac River and the Washington Channel. This area is part of West Potomac Park and is famous for the National Cherry Blossom Festival every spring. Many important memorials are right next to it, like the Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, and the George Mason Memorial. The Tidal Basin is about 107 acres (0.43 square kilometers) big and about 10 feet (3 meters) deep.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The idea for the Tidal Basin came about in the 1880s. It was planned to be a beautiful spot and also to help clean the Washington Channel. The channel is a harbor separated from the Potomac River by land that was filled in, where East Potomac Park is now.
Who Designed It?
Peter Conover Hains, an engineering officer in the U.S. Army, was in charge of designing and building the basin. It was first called Twining Lake. This name honored Major William Johnson Twining, who was Washington D.C.'s first Engineer Commissioner. Major Twining had the idea to create a tidal reservoir to help "flush" (clean out) the Washington Channel. Colonel Hains then carried out this design.
A Beach for Some
In August 1918, a beach was opened at the Tidal Basin. It was funded by Congress and was only for white people. This beach was very popular, with up to 20,000 visitors on some summer days in 1920. Congress had plans to open a separate beach for African-Americans nearby. However, this plan was stopped by some senators. Instead of allowing everyone to use the same beach, Congress ordered the beach to be taken down in 1925.
Building the Basin
The Tidal Basin you see today was built after World War II. It was finished in 1949 by a construction company called Alexander and Repass. This was special for the time because Mr. Alexander was of African descent and Mr. Repass was of European descent.
Future Changes
Today, people are thinking about redesigning the Tidal Basin. This is because rising sea levels and sinking land cause parts of the paths next to the water to flood twice a day during high tide.
How the Tidal Basin Works
The Tidal Basin is designed to release about 250 million US gallons (946,000 cubic meters) of water twice a day. This water is collected during high tide.
The Inlet and Outlet Gates
- Inlet gates: These are on the Potomac River side. They open to let water into the basin when the tide is high.
- Outlet gates: These are on the Washington Channel side. They close during high tide to store the incoming water. They also stop water and sediment (like mud or sand) from flowing into the channel.
As the tide starts to go out, the water flowing out of the basin makes the inlet gates close. This same force pushes the outlet gates open, letting water flow into the channel. The extra force of water rushing from the Tidal Basin through the channel helps to wash away silt (fine dirt) that has built up. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers takes care of these gates and has made sure they work properly.
Kutz Memorial Bridge
The northern part of the basin has the 433-foot (132-meter) Kutz Memorial Bridge crossing over it. This bridge carries eastbound Independence Avenue traffic. It is named after Brigadier General Charles W. Kutz, who was the Commissioner of Engineering for Washington D.C. for many years. The bridge was designed by Paul Cret and finished in 1943. It is made of concrete and steel, covered with granite.
Water for the Reflecting Pool
As part of the work done in 2012, water is now pumped from the Tidal Basin to fill the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Fun Activities
From mid-March until October, you can rent paddle-boats at the Tidal Basin. This is a very popular activity, especially during the Cherry Blossom Festival in April.
Gallery
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Jefferson Memorial as seen from across the Tidal Basin
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Inlet gate
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Inlet bridge (south eastern end)
See also
In Spanish: Cuenca Tidal para niños
