National Capital Parks-East - Coasts / Shorelines

Except along the marshes and swamps associated with streams, the Potomac River shoreline is a relatively narrow tidal beach at the foot of a 3 to 6 meter (9.8 to 20 feet) shore bluff, although some bluffs in Fort Washington Park and Fort Foote Park reach as high as 15 meters (49 feet). These riverbank bluffs are now generally lined with woody vegetation but were once important gun turret sites used for the defense of Washington DC. Many of the gun turret sites are preserved and in place today.