Faroe Islands' subsea tunnels transforming travel, tourism

Proceeding from its article, CNN features that the Faroe Islands are home to a remarkable feat of engineering—an extensive network of tunnels that make navigating the rugged archipelago significantly easier. 

In the Faroe Islands, the weather can be wild and unpredictable — with fierce winds, rain, and thick fog that can make traveling by car or ferry difficult. It’s no surprise, then, that the Faroese have a deep appreciation for their tunnels.

The islands have constructed 17 land tunnels and four subsea tunnels, including the world’s only subsea tunnel with an underwater roundabout.

This extensive tunnel network makes traveling around the self-governing nation, part of the Kingdom of Denmark, much easier.

“Though we are 18 islands, we often joke that (because of the tunnels) we defy the fact that we are islands,” says Súsanna Sørensen, marketing manager of Visit Faroe Islands. Located in the North Atlantic between Iceland and Scotland, the volcanic islands boast breathtaking, unspoiled landscapes.

The two newest subsea tunnels are particularly striking.

“These are our Eiffel Tower or Big Ben,” says Teitur Samuelsen, CEO of Eystur-og Sandoyartunlar, the company operating the tunnels. “People, especially tourists, drive through them just to experience the art.”

Art, indeed. These tunnels are a remarkable blend of art and engineering.

Every day, over 6,000 vehicles pass through the nearly seven-mile (11-kilometer) subsea tunnel that links Streymoy, the largest of the Faroe Islands and home to Tórshavn (one of the world’s smallest capitals), with Eysturoy, the second-largest island in the archipelago.

Beyond its breathtaking natural beauty, Eysturoy is also known for hosting the G! Festival, a prominent local and international music event held every July in the picturesque waterfront village of Syðrugøta.

The construction of the Eysturoy Tunnel took approximately four years, opening in December 2020.

These subsea tunnels are built using the drill and blast method: drilling holes into the basalt — a robust, igneous rock — and then filling them with dynamite.

At its deepest point, the tunnel is about 614 feet (187 meters) beneath sea level. While the thought of the North Atlantic above might cause some unease, Samuelsen reassures that the tunnel's construction is highly reliable.

“The tunnels are designed by the world’s leading engineers and geologists, so safety with regards to the Atlantic above is not an issue,” he says.

In fact, the drive itself feels almost magical, especially with the highlight being a sculptural roundabout that changes colors, so captivating that some liken it to the Aurora Borealis or glowing jellyfish under the sunlight.

By Naila Huseynova