Rio Grande Gorge
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The Rio Grande Gorge is located west of Taos, New Mexico, and cuts through the basalt flows of the Taos Plateau volcanic field. The gorge reaches a depth of 800 feet just south of the Colorado border, within the boundary of the Wild Rivers Recreation Area. The Gorge Bridge, a popular Taos tourist attraction, was completed in 1966 and spans the gorge seven miles west of Taos . It is also the second highest bridge in the U.S. The Taos Gorge is known for it's world class white water and steep pocketed rock climbing, as well as it's hidden hot springs that flank the river for miles. Many ancient beautiful pictographs and ruins can be found along the banks of the river as well. Much of the rock art found in the gorge is the basis for the prints and patterns found on trinkets, mugs, and t-shirts sold in local tourist shops.