The New River Gorge

The New River Gorge National River was established in 1978 and is part of the National Park Service. It was established to protect the New River, which stretches 53 miles from Hinton, WV to Ansted, WV. This area is a popular recreation area and attracts daredevil BASE jumpers who jump from the bridge on the annual Bridge Day, as well as whitewater rafters. The New River is said to have some of the best whitewater rafting in the country.

The New River Gorge Bridge is a major landmark of the area. With a length of 3030 feet and a span of 1700 feet, it was, for many years, the longest steel arch bridge in the world. It is 876 feet high over the New River, making it the highest vehicular bridge in the Americas, and the second highest in the world (until 2004 it was the highest in the world. The Millau Viaduct in France is now the highest at 886 feet). The New River Gorge Bridge is also featured on the West Virginia state quarter.

Construction on the bridge began in June 1974 and was completed on October 22, 1977, at a total cost of $37 million dollars. Built out of Cor-ten steel which was used to eliminate the need for repainting, it was designed by the Michael Baker Company, under the direction of Chief Engineer Clarence V. Knudsen.

The New River Gorge Bridge is the site for the annual Bridge Day. Held every year on the 3rd Saturday in October to commemorate the completion of the New River Bridge, the bridge is closed to vehicular traffic and open to BASE (Building Antenna Span Earth) jumpers who jump from the bridge with parachutes and also offers demonstrations of rappelling and ascending. Bungee jumping is not allowed on the bridge since an accident in 1993. The largest extreme sports event in the world, some 200,000 spectators are expected to come to this year's Bridge Day on October 20, 2007, with some 450 Base jumpers and hundreds of rappellers. It may be surprising to know that with such high numbers of BASE jumpers and other daredevils attending Bridge Day over the years, that there have only been 3 fatalities since Bridge Day began in 1980.

Links to check out:

Official Bridge Day site
Bridge Day history
Guide to Bridge Day