US National Whitewater Center. Less than 15 minutes from downtown Charlotte, it is the world's largest re-circulating man-made river with Class II-IV rapids. It is home to the US Olympic Whitewater Teams. The sports complex includes rock climbing, whitewater rafting, kayaing and canoeing on the man-made rapids and on the adjacent Catawba River, hiking trails, 14 miles of mountain bike trails, a restaurant and conference facilities for rent. The rafters pictured here are part of a nationwide Belk Stores employees' event -- the raft trips are a popular coporate team-building event.