Georgetown Reservoir

So I’ve been working across the street from this thing for several weeks now, and I gotta say: I’m a fan.
No, you can’t swim in it. No, you can’t boat on it. No, you can’t tube or ski or sunbathe. You know what you can do, tho? Look at it (or jog within eyeshot of it… oh, and apparently you can fish here if you have a permit).
And look at it I do. It’s like having a Great Lake right here in DC. OK, so it’s not exactly like having a Great Lake, because I can quite easily spy the opposing bank — but it enhances the beauty of this city like you wouldn’t expect. In the morning, the sunrise is reflected on its glassy surface. In the afternoon, sunlight literally glitters off of it. In the fog, it’s eerie and ethereal. On a cloudy day, its color actually pops.
And I didn’t realize it, but Georgetown Reservoir isn’t just a big, boring hole in the ground — it’s much more interesting than all that. It’s over 150 years old, was built by the Army Corps of Engineers, and pulls from Great Falls to provide drinking water via aquaduct for Washingtonians. The sluice gate — Georgetown Castle Gatehouse — was built at the turn of last century and is a charming replica of the castle on the Army Corps of Engineers insignia. And because the Reservoir is closed to the public, it’s become a little sanctuary for birds, recommended by the Audubon Society for great bird-​watching.
I’ve started a designated savings account so that one day, I too can live in one of those glorious, rare detached houses right across MacArthur Boulevard from this wee oasis.