Though the New River Gorge National River encompasses 70,000 acres along the New River and the river is renowned for its whitewater recreation, without question the most recognizable icon in this national park unit is the bridge over the gorge--and the river far below--located on US 19 near Fayetteville, WV. The steel arch bridge was completed in 1977. It is 3,030 feet long, with the arch spanning 1,700 feet, and 876 feet high, making it the highest vehicular bridge in the Americas and the second highest in the world. On the third Saturday of each October, the bridge is closed for "Bridge Day," and serves as the location for a celebration of rappelling, ascending, and BASE jumping. This shot of the bridge was made from near the Canyon Rim Visitors' Center, just as the sun's first rays lit the bridge and the fog rising from the river below.