One was dug by hand in China, another reshaped the geography of Europe and a third doubles as a drainpipe. Welcome to the fascinating world of tunnels.
The Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland
1. Gotthard Base Tunnel, Switzerland
The Gotthard Base Tunnel is the world’s longest and deepest tunnel. It runs under the Swiss alps between the towns of Erstfeld in the north and Bodio in the south. The tunnel is 57 km long and reaches a depth of 2,300 meters. Trains reaching speeds of up to 250 kilometers an hour can travel through in 20 minutes, according to the Swiss Travel System. The tunnel has helped to decrease the travel time between Zurich, Switzerland, and Milan, Italy, by an hour.
Length: 57 kilometers
2. Seikan Tunnel, Japan
The Seikan is a railway tunnel in Japan. What makes it unique is the fact that a 23-kilometer stretch of the tunnel is 140 meters below sea level. Until the Gotthard Base Tunnel was built, it was the longest and deepest rail tunnel in the world. The Seikan tunnel spans the Tsugaru Strait, connecting Aomori Prefecture on the island of Honshu to the island of Hokkaido. Work on the tunnel started in 1964 and was completed in 1988.
Length: 53 kilometers
