10 of the world’s greatest tunnels

By CNN Staff
8 minute read
Updated 12:47 PM EST, Mon December 12, 2016
Regular rail service began in December 2016 through Switzerland's Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest and deepest tunnel. It runs beneath the Swiss Alps. Pictured: An Italian train at the tunnel's northern entrance on the eve of the tunnel's June opening ceremony. <strong>Length: </strong>57 kilometers.
Gotthard Base Tunnel (Switzerland) —
Regular rail service began in December 2016 through Switzerland's Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest and deepest tunnel. It runs beneath the Swiss Alps. Pictured: An Italian train at the tunnel's northern entrance on the eve of the tunnel's June opening ceremony. Length: 57 kilometers.
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The world's longest road tunnel, Norway's Lærdal Tunnel has features designed to alleviate claustrophobia and tiredness. <strong>Length: </strong>24.5 kilometers
Lærdal Tunnel (Norway) —
The world's longest road tunnel, Norway's Lærdal Tunnel has features designed to alleviate claustrophobia and tiredness. Length: 24.5 kilometers
Visitnorway
"The Channel Tunnel fundamentally changed the geography of Europe and helped to reinforce high speed rail as a viable alternative to short-haul flights,'' says Matt Sykes, tunnel expert and director at engineering firm Arup. <strong>Length: </strong>50 kilometers
Channel Tunnel (UK and France) —
"The Channel Tunnel fundamentally changed the geography of Europe and helped to reinforce high speed rail as a viable alternative to short-haul flights,'' says Matt Sykes, tunnel expert and director at engineering firm Arup. Length: 50 kilometers
Eurotunnel
Tokyo Bay's Aqua-Line might look like a bridge but that's because a small part of the entire structure, which comprises a 4.4-kilometer bridge and a 9.6-kilometer underwater tunnel, is visible above the water. <strong>Length: </strong>14 kilometers total
Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line (Japan) —
Tokyo Bay's Aqua-Line might look like a bridge but that's because a small part of the entire structure, which comprises a 4.4-kilometer bridge and a 9.6-kilometer underwater tunnel, is visible above the water. Length: 14 kilometers total
Chiba Prefectural Tourist Association/JNTO
Colorado's Eisenhower tunnel is one of the world's highest road tunnels, located 3,401 meters above sea level, at the highest point on the U.S. interstate highway system.<br /><strong>Length:</strong> 2.72 kilometers
Eisenhower Tunnel (Colorado) —
Colorado's Eisenhower tunnel is one of the world's highest road tunnels, located 3,401 meters above sea level, at the highest point on the U.S. interstate highway system.
Length: 2.72 kilometers
Colorado Deparment of Transport
The dramatic Spiralen road tunnel in Norway, built in 1961 and comprising six spirals covering 1,649 meters, leads to one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the industrial town of Drammen.<br /><strong>Length:</strong> 1.65 kilometers
Spiralen tunnel (Norway) —
The dramatic Spiralen road tunnel in Norway, built in 1961 and comprising six spirals covering 1,649 meters, leads to one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the industrial town of Drammen.
Length: 1.65 kilometers
Jason Stonecipher
This 9.7-kilometer SMART tunnel, the longest in Malaysia, was built to solve the problem of flash flooding in Kuala Lumpur. The tunnel has successfully controlled floods and relieved traffic congestion. <strong>Length: </strong>9.7 kilometers
SMART (Malaysia) —
This 9.7-kilometer SMART tunnel, the longest in Malaysia, was built to solve the problem of flash flooding in Kuala Lumpur. The tunnel has successfully controlled floods and relieved traffic congestion. Length: 9.7 kilometers
Mohd Hamid
The 53-kilometer Seikan is a railway tunnel in Japan with a 23-kilometer stretch that runs underwater, Before the Gotthard Base Tunnel came along, it was the world's longest and deepest rail tunnel. <strong>Length: </strong>53 kilometers
Seikan Tunnel (Japan) —
The 53-kilometer Seikan is a railway tunnel in Japan with a 23-kilometer stretch that runs underwater, Before the Gotthard Base Tunnel came along, it was the world's longest and deepest rail tunnel. Length: 53 kilometers
Courtesy Roberta Young
A company that had worked with Disney was originally supposed to help design Shanghai's Bund Sightseeing Tunnel. Instead, a local firm created the tunnel's psychedelic lights and trippy audio-visual effects. <strong>Length: </strong>646.7 meters
Bund Sightseeing Tunnel (China) —
A company that had worked with Disney was originally supposed to help design Shanghai's Bund Sightseeing Tunnel. Instead, a local firm created the tunnel's psychedelic lights and trippy audio-visual effects. Length: 646.7 meters
Thierry Hoppe
World's greatest tunnels

Story highlights

Switzerland's Gotthard Base Tunnel is world's longest and deepest tunnel

The Channel Tunnel, between the UK and France, has world's longest undersea section

CNN  — 

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Channel Tunnel linking France with the United Kingdom, and the 50th anniversary of the deal which led to its creation.

The Gotthard Base Tunnel, dubbed Switzerland’s “construction of the century,” was 17 years in the making and is reported to have cost around $12 billion.

To mark the occasion, we’re taking a look at some of the world’s greatest tunnels.

MORE: World’s longest tunnel opens deep beneath Swiss Alps

1. Gotthard Base Tunnel (Switzerland)