In world geography, on which river is the capital city of the United States, Washington DC, situated?

Introduction / Context:
Many major world capitals are located on the banks of important rivers, which historically supported trade, transport, and defense. Washington DC, the capital of the United States of America, is no exception. This question tests whether you know the name of the river that flows by Washington DC.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are asked specifically about Washington DC, the capital of the United States.
• We must identify the river on which it is situated.
• Options are Potomac, Irrawaddy, Mississippi, and Hudson.
• Only one of these rivers flows through or along Washington DC.

Concept / Approach:
To solve this, you need to connect cities with their rivers. The Potomac River flows in the eastern United States and forms part of the boundary of Washington DC. The Mississippi River flows much farther west through cities like St. Louis and New Orleans. The Hudson River flows by New York City, and the Irrawaddy is a major river of Myanmar in Asia. Recognizing where each river is located allows you to eliminate wrong options and keep the correct one.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that Washington DC is on the east coast of the United States. Step 2: Recall that the Potomac River runs through the Mid Atlantic region and forms the boundary of Washington DC and Virginia. Step 3: Recognize that the Mississippi River flows through the central United States and does not pass by Washington DC. Step 4: Know that the Hudson River is associated with New York City, not Washington DC. Step 5: Conclude that Potomac is the correct river for Washington DC.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by remembering popular images and descriptions of Washington DC, which often show monuments like the Lincoln Memorial or the Pentagon situated near the Potomac River. Also, many geography and civics textbooks list Potomac whenever they describe the location of the United States capital.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Irrawaddy: This is a major river of Myanmar in Southeast Asia and has no connection with Washington DC.
Mississippi: A very important river in the United States, but it flows through cities like Minneapolis, St. Louis, and New Orleans, not Washington DC.
Hudson: Closely associated with New York State and New York City, not the federal capital region.

Common Pitfalls:
The main confusion arises between the Potomac and the Mississippi because both are very famous rivers in the United States. The best strategy is to memorize city river pairs such as Washington DC and Potomac, New York and Hudson, and New Orleans and Mississippi. Visualizing them on a map repeatedly can strongly fix these associations in memory.

Final Answer:
Washington DC is situated on the banks of the Potomac River.