For centuries, geographical barriers like lakes and mountains have posed huge obstacles for humans as they made transportation very tough. To overcome these issues, scientists and engineers brought the idea of building a tunnel across those obstacles.

The best ways to avoid obstacles are taking bypass routes or avoiding the route. Most of the time, taking bypass routes to solve the problem takes more time than usual. However, the idea and execution of the first-ever tunnel system in the 19th century helped a lot to bring change to the transportation system. The first tunnel was built in the underwater environment in 1843 in London. It was built under the famous Thames River. Following is the list of exceptional structures in the form of long tunnels through geographical barriers.

The San Gotardo tunnel, located in Switzerland:

Built between 1970-1980, this tunnel is nearly 17 kilometers long, used as an A2 motorway between Chiasso and Basel. In September 1980, this tunnel was inaugurated for public transport. Unfortunately, rash driving caused a huge number of accidents annually, with the most lethal one taking place in 2001. After that, the government took serious steps to protect public health. The transportation in this tunnel is allowed one-way direction for two hours alternatively daily.

Jinpingshan tunnel, located in China:

Spanning over 17 kilometers, the Jinpingshan tunnel, situated in the Sichuan province, is one of the most famous tunnels in the world. This tunnel will take you to the highest dam, the Jinping dam. Unfortunately, you cannot travel through this vehicle as only authorized vehicles are allowed there. Let me share another interesting trivia about this tunnel, globally, the Jinpingshan tunnel is the second deepest one.

The Zhongnanshan tunnel, another longest tunnel in China:

Located in southern China, this tunnel crosses the famous Qinling mountain range between Beihai and Batour. Zhongnanshan tunnel, inaugurated in 2000, encompasses a length of 18 kilometers. It remained the longest tunnel in Asia for 7 years since its opening, connecting the Zhashui and Changan counties. With colored lights and artificial plants, this is a great option if you love long drives.

The Yamate tunnel, located in Japan:

Located a little below ground (30 meters from the ground), the Yamate tunnel is 18.2 kilometers long. It took more than two decades to be built fully. The initial construction started in 1992, and the first part of this tunnel was opened for public transport in 2007. After 8 years, in 2015, the whole tunnel was inaugurated for public transport. Globally, this is the second-longest tunnel. However, the Yamate tunnel is acknowledged as the longest urban tunnel as it is a part of Tokyo's Central Circular Route. of the Tokyo toll road, most of it under the city’s Yamate Street.

The Laerdal tunnel, located in Norway:

Ever imagined a tunnel traveling a tunnel of around 25 kilometers? Global engineers and scientists made this possible by building a tunnel across various nearby mountainous formations between Aurland and Laerdal, situated in western Norway. Specialized lights and illumination are used to provide an impression of daylight, which is as specular as a big fat wedding.

So, when are you planning to explore those long tunnels?