新河峡国家公园中的新河峡大桥，西弗吉尼亚州 New River Gorge Bridge in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, West Virginia (© Entropy Workshop/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

新河峡国家公园中的新河峡大桥，西弗吉尼亚州 New River Gorge Bridge in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, West Virginia (© Entropy Workshop/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

A river runs through it

To kick off National Park Week, which begins today, we're visiting America's newest national park, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, in West Virginia. This incredible view is of the New River Gorge Bridge, which, when completed in 1977, was the world's highest bridge carrying a regular roadway. It held that distinction for 24 years and is now a popular attraction for BASE jumpers and rappelers.

Far below the bridge is the New River, which—despite its name—is the second oldest river in the world. Its exact age is unknown, but geologists believe the New River is a segment of the preglacial Teays River, which fossil evidence suggests could be 320 million years old. Today, rafters and kayakers come to ride the New River rapids, which can reach a level of Class V, which means they're among the most difficult waters to navigate.

一条河穿过它

为了拉开今天开始的国家公园周的序幕，我们将参观美国最新的国家公园，西弗吉尼亚州的新河峡谷国家公园和保护区。这是令人难以置信的观点是新河峡谷大桥，这是在1977年建成时，世界上最高的桥梁进行定期道路。24年来，它一直保持着这一殊荣，现在已经成为跳垒和饶舌的热门景点。

桥下远处是新河，尽管它的名字是世界上第二古老的河流。它的确切年龄不得而知，但地质学家认为这条新河是前冰期Teays河的一段，化石证据表明这条河可能有3.2亿年的历史。今天，椽子和皮划艇来乘坐新的河流急流，这可以达到五级水平，这意味着他们之间的最困难的水域航行。