So it's definitely another good day for some travel daydreams. Here's another set of America's biggest, longest, and best...
Largest Natural Bridge: Rainbow Bridge The world's largest natural bridge, Rainbow Bridge, is in southern Utah; it is 275 feet across and 290 feet tall. This sandstone wonder holds significance for various American Indian groups and was designated a national monument in 1910 by President Taft. | Largest Freshwater Fish: White Sturgeon The white sturgeon is the largest freshwater fish in North America. One record-setting specimen, from the Snake River in Idaho in the 19th century, reportedly weighed 1,500 pounds. The white sturgeon typically reaches about 12 feet in length. | Largest Mountain Chain: Rocky Mountain The Rocky Mountains stretch more than 2,000 miles through several western states. Among the most spectacular ranges in the chain are the Sawatch of Colorado - home to Mount Elbert, the highest peak in the Rockies at 14,433 feet - and the Tetons of Wyoming. |
Tallest Trees: Coast Redwoods Coast redwoods, the tallest trees in the world today, range from central California to southern Oregon. Most of these giants stand between 200 and 300 feet tall, though they can reach more than 350 feet; they can live 2,000 years or longer. | Largest Rodent: American Beaver The average adult beaver weighs between 35 and 40 pounds; the largest can weigh more than 60 pounds and be 3 feet tall when standing on its hind legs. Though their long front teeth look menacing, beavers are peaceful creatures. | Longest River System: Mississippi-Missouri From the headwaters of the Missouri River, in the Rocky Mountains, to the great delta where the Mississippi River empties into the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi-Missouri river system stretches more then 3,700 miles. Exact measurements are difficult to pinpoint. |
Rainiest Spot: Mount Waialeale Mount Waialeale, on the island of Kauai in Hawaii, has an average annual rainfall of about 400 inches. Its elevation is greater than 5,000 feet. The name Waialele, may be roughly rendered in English as "overflowing waters" or "rippling waters." | Most Active Volcano: Kilauea Fiery eruptions are common at Kilauea, a volcano of the southeastern edge of the Big Island of Hawaii. Kilauea has had 55 eruptive episodes since 1983; it typically produces more than 10 million cubic feet of lava every day. | Longest Cave: Mammoth Cave More than 365 miles of passages have been explored and mapped in Mammoth Cave, in Kentucky. This is the longest known cave in the world; according to tradition, it was discovered in the 1790's by a hunter chasing a bear. |