West Virginia's New River Gorge Bridge was the world's longest steel-arch bridge (Shanghai's Lupu Bridge took the title in 2003). It opens to pedestrians once each year on "Bridge Day."
Photograph by Susie Post Rust
Related Features
-
Hike the Appalachian Trail
Get inspired with our Ultimate Adventure Bucket List, a collection of 40 trips that range from totally extreme to actually doable.
-
Top 10 North American Train Trips
Journey past mountain peaks, coastal views, desert vistas, and some of the most magnificent scenery the continent has to offer.
-
When Mountains Move
The quest for Appalachian coal has led to mountaintop removal, a process that's been called strip mining on steroids.
West Virginia Map
Boundaries and names shown do not necessarily reflect the map policy of the National Geographic Society.