The West Potomac Park in Washington, DC, lies just west of the National Mall. It is home to some of Washington's most iconic sites, like the Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and the Tidal Basin. But, the park’s most famous attraction? Cherry blossoms. Thousands of cherry trees bloom around the waters of the Tidal Basin, which reflect the trees’ images. The basin was created in the late 1800s to prevent the Potomac River from flooding. These pink and white flowers serve as a symbol of international friendship. The original cherry trees were a gift from Japan. On March 26, 1912, more than 3,000 cherry trees arrived in Washington. Most were planted around the Tidal Basin. But cherry trees were also planted near the Washington Monument and the White House. Mike Litterst is a spokesperson for the U.S. National Park Service. The park service maintains West Potomac Park.
Title: Washington's Cherry Blossoms Signal the Start of Spring
Content: <div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/925/cherry_audio.m4a' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='Washington's Cherry Blossoms Signal the Start of Spring' data-article-id='1353'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='8521'>The West Potomac Park in Washington, DC, lies just west of the National Mall. </span> <span data-start-time='8521' data-end-time='21542'>It is home to some of Washington's most iconic sites, like the Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and the Tidal Basin.</span> <span data-start-time='21542' data-end-time='24854'>But, the park’s most famous attraction? </span> <span data-start-time='24854' data-end-time='27104'>Cherry blossoms.</span> <span data-start-time='27104' data-end-time='36875'>Thousands of cherry trees bloom around the waters of the Tidal Basin, which reflect the trees’ images. </span> <span data-start-time='36875' data-end-time='45875'>The basin was created in the late 1800s to prevent the Potomac River from flooding.</span> <span data-start-time='45875' data-end-time='53563'>These pink and white flowers serve as a symbol of international friendship. </span> <span data-start-time='53563' data-end-time='58479'>The original cherry trees were a gift from Japan.</span> <span data-start-time='58479' data-end-time='68333'>On March 26, 1912, more than 3,000 cherry trees arrived in Washington. </span> <span data-start-time='68333' data-end-time='72208'>Most were planted around the Tidal Basin. </span> <span data-start-time='72208' data-end-time='79458'>But cherry trees were also planted near the Washington Monument and the White House.</span> <span data-start-time='79458' data-end-time='85792'>Mike Litterst is a spokesperson for the U.S. National Park Service. </span> <span data-start-time='85792' data-end-time='89771'>The park service maintains West Potomac Park.</span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/925/cherry_img.jpg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=5635 data-hint-location='27104' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/925/what_does_bloom_mean.m4a'>What does bloom mean?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='a time period in which a plant has many open flowers'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/925/to_celebrate_something.m4a'><span>to celebrate something</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/925/the_existence_of_something.m4a'><span>the existence of something</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/925/at_the_highest_point.m4a'><span>at the highest point</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/925/a_time_period_in_which_a_plant_has_many_open_flowers.m4a'><span>a time period in which a plant has many open flowers</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=5636 data-hint-location='68333' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/925/where_in_dc_can_you_find_the_cherry_blossoms.m4a'>Where in D.C. can you find the cherry blossoms?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='Tidal Basin'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/925/smithsonian.m4a'><span>Smithsonian</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/925/tidal_basin.m4a'><span>Tidal Basin</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/925/capitol_building.m4a'><span>Capitol building</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/925/pentagon.m4a'><span>Pentagon</span></div></div></div><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=5637 data-hint-location='45875' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/925/the_cherry_blossoms_serve_as_a_symbol_of__blank__friendship_.m4a'>The cherry blossoms serve as a symbol of <span class='blank'>international</span> friendship. </div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='international'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/925/international.m4a'><span>international</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/925/universal.m4a'><span>universal</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/925/national.m4a'><span>national</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/925/enemy.m4a'><span>enemy</span></div></div></div><div class='question-buttons'><button class='skip-button'></button><button class='hint-button'></button><button class='speak-button'></button></div></div></div>
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