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Fast Facts

Location: Eastern Coast of USA on the north bank of the Potomac River within the District of Columbia, an area bordering the state of Maryland. Country Dialing Code: +1 City code: 202 Emergency Numbers: 911- This number that can be dialed for free from any phone (even a pay phone) to obtain assistance . Telephone Directory services: 411 is the number for directory assistance, though a charge will apply; 1-800-Free-411 is the number for free. Directory assistance (though callers will listen to ads). Population 572,059 Languages spoken: English Time Zones: GMT/UTC -5 (Eastern Time) Washington DC observes Daylight Saving Time, April – October. Average January Temperature: -4 º C Average July Temperature: 30 º C Annual Rainfall: 110 mm Electrical Plugs: 120 volts, 60Hz. Plugs are mainly the two, flat-pin type, though three-pin plugs are also widely used. European appliances without dual-voltage capabilities will require an adapter, which can be purchased in most major Weights & Measures: Imperial Currency: US Dollar, Code: USD, Symbol: US $, currently, 1US $ = 3.673 UAE dirhams

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Annual Temperature

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National Holidays

New Year’s Day - January 1 Martin Luther King Jr. Day - the third Monday in January Inauguration Day 20 Jan 2009 - (every four years) President’s Day - the third Monday in February Memorial Day - the last Monday in May Independence Day - July 4 Labor Day - the first Monday in September Thanksgiving Day - the fourth Thursday in November Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - December 24 and 25 New Year’s Eve - December 31

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When to go

The official tourist season starts from April through September but if comfort is a priority then the best time to visit the US capital is in Spring ( March to May) and Fall (September to November). A word of advice is to buy advance tickets to popular attractions beforehand because the queues can be very long.

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Washington DC Residents

In 2006, the population distribution was 55.5% African American, 34.5% Caucasian, 8.2% Hispanic (of any race), 5.1% other (including Native Americans, Alaskans, Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders), 3.4% Asian and 1.5% mixed (two or more races).[53] Even though they comprise the city's largest ethnic group, Washington has a steadily declining black population due to many African Americans leaving the city for suburbs. At the same time, the city's white population has steadily increased, in part due to effects of gentrification in many of Washington's traditionally black neighborhoods. A 2007 report found that about one-third of Washington residents are functionally illiterate, compared to a national rate of about one in five. However, while one-third are functionally illiterate, 45% of D.C. residents have at least a four-year college degree, the fourth-highest rate in the nation, which further illustrates the social divide present in the city. Residents who practice Islam make up 10.6% of the population.

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