Listen closely. Have you heard about Dots Island? It is a small island in the Potomac River. Dots Island sits just south of Theodore Roosevelt Island. You can also find it near the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge.
Dots Island is quite small. It covers only 1.547 acres. That’s about 0.0024 square miles. Or 0.0062 square kilometers. This makes Dots Island the sixth largest island in D.C.
Despite its size Dots Island is entirely wooded. It remains uninhabited and undeveloped. The highest point on Dots Island is a mere 3 feet. That is less than a meter.
To reach Dots Island you need a boat. A small channel separates it from Theodore Roosevelt Island. Dots Island is not part of Theodore Roosevelt Island Park. But the National Park Service manages them together.
Dots Island has a distinct shape. It looks like a rounded triangle. Over time Dots Island has had a few names. People once called it South Island. Others knew it as Swan Island. Small Island was another former name for Dots Island.
Dots Island offers a glimpse into a natural space. It is a place untouched by development. Think of Dots Island as a hidden gem. It is a quiet spot in the heart of the nation’s capital.