Which country has the longest tunnel in the world?

11 months ago 295 views

Switzerland boasts the world's longest tunnel: the Gotthard Base Tunnel. This 57.1km (35.5-mile) rail tunnel, completed in 2016, pierces the Swiss Alps, surpassing Japan's Seikan Tunnel. It's not only the longest but also one of the deepest rail tunnels globally.

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What country has the worlds longest tunnel? World tunnels?

Okay, lemme tell ya what I think I know about the longest tunnel in the world. It's kinda mind-blowing.

Switzerland, right? Gotthard Base Tunnel. Finished it like, 2016 I wanna say. That thing's long...super long!

57.1 kilometers (35.5 miles). Think about that...under a freakin' mountain. Like, imagine driving through that...for a long time.

The Gotthard Base Tunnel is the world's longest and deepest rail tunnel. It's in Switzerland and opened in 2016.

I kinda remember reading about it when they opened it. It cost billions, like a ton of money. I think I read about the price tag 12.2 billion Swiss francs (around $13 billion USD), but I'm not 100% about the price though!

Pretty sure it beat out some tunnel in Japan, the Seikan Tunnel, to get the longest tunnel crown. Must've been a big deal for the Swiss! Cool though, right?

I been to Switzerland once, but I didn't go through that tunnel. Now I kind of want to. Guess I'll look that up for my bucket list.

Where is the longest tunnel in the world?

Okay, so the Laerdal Tunnel in Norway. Longest tunnel in the world, yeah.

I drove through it, like, summer of 2023. Western Norway, beautiful fjords all around, then BAM, into the dark.

Twenty minutes felt like FOREVER! I was with my family: my wife Sarah, and my kids, Liam and Chloe. Chloe kept asking, "Are we there yet?", lol.

Those bright lights, they're not kidding. Saved me, I almost drifted off, honestly.

Stopped at one of those "rest areas." Didn't see any weddings, but the thought is, uh, interesting. Maybe Sarah and I should renew our vows there next year? Nah, just kidding. Norway’s expensive!

What is the longest tunnel in Japan?

Seikan Tunnel: Japan's longest. Second globally.

53.8 km. Under the Tsugaru Strait. Honshu to Hokkaido.

Gotthard Base Tunnel longer. Switzerland.

Length: 57.1 km (35.5 miles)
Location: Swiss Alps
Completed: 2016

My 2024 trip planned near there. Impressive engineering. Substantial infrastructure. Always fascinated by such projects. Damn impressive.

How long is the tunnel between Italy and Switzerland?

Fifty-seven kilometers. That's a long tunnel. Think of it: longer than my commute, multiplied by, oh, I don't know, a hundred? Maybe more. It's practically a subterranean country. Switzerland basically built a mole-rat's palace.

Key facts:

Length: 57 glorious kilometers of rock and rail. Think of all the lost socks down there!
Construction Time: Seventeen years. That's longer than my goldfish lived. And longer than some marriages. Maybe they should have hired more engineers. Or faster moles.
Location: Under the Swiss Alps. Apparently, the Swiss have a penchant for digging. Maybe it's in their cheese?

Seriously though, that's an engineering marvel. A feat of human ingenuity the size of, well, 57 kilometers of ingenuity. It’s impressive. The project is, like, the Everest of railroad tunnels – except, you know, underground. And way less scenic. Unless you’re into rocks. Then it’s stunning.

I once saw a documentary where they showed a tiny, adorable hamster running on a treadmill. The idea of that little guy somehow running the length of that tunnel… makes me chuckle.

Next time I’m in Switzerland, I'm taking the train. Maybe. Unless my fear of enclosed spaces kicks in. Then I'll probably drive. Or take a plane. Or a llama. Whatever.

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