World's Unique Tunnels

1. Laerdal Tunnel Location: Sogn og Fjordane, Norway 

Background: About 5,000 different explosions carried out during the construction phase Laerdal Tunnel, which runs under the Norwegian mountains and fjords along the 15 miles, and this is a tunnel that was built with the longest time in the world.
Why Unique: Driving through a tunnel for 20 minutes can be quite monotonous, so the team of psychologists and engineers focused on how to maintain the driver's concentration. "A person's psychological reaction in the tunnel is very important ... it makes a distinction between those who accept the facilities or simply to avoid it," said Youssef Hashash, professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois, who has worked 10 projects of different tunnel . "Given the length of this tunnel, you need an environment designed with care and good lighting system." Some of the solutions used in Laerdal tunnel, including bright blue lights and corners smooth curve that continues to make the driver concentration. Most important is the fact that the tunnel is divided into several different sections, can take the driver and create the impression that passengers traveling through some of the smaller tunnels. 

2. Channel Tunnel Location: Coquelles, France 

Background: Commonly known as the Chunnel, this giant truktur linking England and France. Completed in 1994, 31-mile tunnel was spent in excess of $ 20 billion. Why Unique: Linking French and English through the English Channel is an idea that has sparked hundreds of years ago. "There were previous attempts to build a tunnel here, but they were stopped for various reasons, both technical and political," said Hashash. after the found of modern technology, and consider the benefits if the two countries can be connected, then began the mega project. Due to its length, designers build another smaller tunnel to the street to escape in case of fire or accident in the tunnel.  

3. Zion-Mount Caramel Tunnel Location: Zion Canyon, Utah 

Background: The driver will find these structures in the Mount Zion National Park Utah and Bryce Canyon National Park. Why Unique: A series of carved windows adorn the driver's side of the tunnel as a means of enjoying the scenery. "When you leave Zion headed to Bryce, you climb this path and go through the tunnel this beautiful. You can see rock formations and beautiful scenery, "said Hashash. Because the tunnel was built through the sandstone, which is relatively soft rock, engineers have to strengthen the structure a few times over the past 80 years, adding concrete ribs and 24-hour monitoring system.  

4. Smuggling Tunnel  Location: Tijuana, Mexico 

Background: Criminals have been using underground tunnels to do all kinds of crimes, including bank robbery and drug smuggling. During the past decade, smuggling tunnels have been discovered in U.S. territory, comes from Canada and Mexico. Why Unique: In December, officials of the United States and Mexico found the tunnel length of 1000 feet, which leads to the U.S., although not complete, the tunnel is equipped with lighting, a ventilation system, electricity, and even elevators. A statement from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) show that the tunnel was built over the past two years. 

5. Marmaray Tunnel Location: Istanbul, Turkey 

Background: This intercontinental tunnel construction began in 2004, but archaeological finds from the Byzantine era and other hurdles have delayed its completion. Why Unique: this immersed tube tunnel will be the first to merge two different continents, running under the Strait of Bosporus to link the European side of Istanbul to the Asian side. Marmaray Tunnel is the deepest immersed tube tunnel in the world, with a maximum depth of 180 meters. 

6. Thames Tunnel Location: London, England 

Background: At first glance does not look impressive Thames Tunnel, 1300 feet long and 75 feet deep and looks pale compared to the other tunnel. But the Thames Tunnel is a milestone in tunnel engineering. Why Unique: "This is the first underwater tunnel, and it was the first time the concept of shield tunneling is used," Hashash told. "This is a major milestone." Shield tunneling is a tool developed by Sir Marc Isambard Brunel who serves as a temporary support structure, which allows construction crews to safely, and flat, install a permanent support system is under water. Building the Thames Tunnel was such a novelty at the beginning of the 19th century that visitors would pay to get in on the construction site, and even Brunel concerts and banquets in the unfinished structure. When the tunnel was completed in 1843, Queen Victoria gave to Brunel knighted for his services in the construction world. 

7. Seikan Tunnel Location: Honshu, Japan 

Background: The 33.5-mile long tunnel connects the island of Honshu with island of Hokkaido. Construction completed in 1988. Why Unique: Located in 787 meters below sea level, the Seikan Tunnel is the world's deepest tunnel. In addition, with a length of 33.5 miles to make the longest tunnel being used. Excavation area geology and volcanic rocks that boring prevented the engineers using sophisticated machinery, forcing them to destroy and quickly dig under the Tsugaru Strait. 

8. Yerba Buena Island Tunnel Location: Bay Area, California 

Background: Yerba Buena Island is a small piece of vacant land in San Francisco Bay, between Oakland and San Francisco. A five-lane bridge on one side, with two suspension bridges on the other. Why Unique: With a diameter of 76 feet, Yerba Buena Island is the largest single tunnel in the world, opened in November 1936. Hashash speculated that adding the tunnel was the most cost savings and a possible solution to pass through the island, rather than just build a big bridge. 

9. Infiltration Tunnels Location: 38th Parallel DMZ 

Background: Three different tunnel was found slithering beneath the Korean Demilitarized Zone, one of the most disputed border in the world, throughout the 1970s. All looks come from North Korea, and later, in 1990, the fourth tunnel was found. Why Unique: Invasion of the Third Tunnel, also known as the Third Tunnel of Aggression, begins 26 miles from Seoul, South Korea. North Korea's underground route provides the means to launch a massive military attack, and a tunnel large enough to transport the entire military division. GlobalSecurity.org estimates that as many as 20 tunnels bullies in the DMZ; menmbah strained relations between North and South Korea. 

10. Natural Tunnel Location: Natural Tunnel State Park, Virginia 

Background: The development of this tunnel began millions of years ago, when the carbonic acid from eroding the limestone and dolomite bedrock. An article published in the journal of geology in 1832 is the first documentation of the existence of this tunnel. Why Unique: Tunnel with 200 feet width is large to accommodate trains, so that in 1906 Southern Railway built track passengers through the structure of this nature. Today, passenger trains no longer used, but transport continues to transport the coal through the tunnels on a regular basis. Because of awe at the structure of this nature, William Jennings Bryan, presidential candidate tahuna1896 and Woodrow Wilson's secretary of state, said it was the eighth wonder of the world. 

11. Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel Location: Clear Creek County, Colorado 

Background: The driver will find this tunnel with a length of 1.67 miles, about an hour west of Denver in the middle of the Rockies. Opened in 1973, abbreviate nearly an hour compared to the alternative route via Loveland Pass. Why Unique: There are many things that make Eisenhower Tunnel stand out, like with a height of 11,158 feet, which makes it one of the highest tunnel in the world, and the fact that it is the longest mountain tunnel in the U.S.. Adding structure's mystique is that he was cut under the Continental Divide, the point at which bodies of water that flows into the Pacific is divided from the body of water that flows into the Atlantic. 

12. Cheyenne Mountain Complex Location: El Paso County, Colorado 

Background: Deep in the belly Cheyenne Mountain is a city-like military complex that had become the center of the North American Aerospace Defence (NORAD). Designed during the height of the Cold War, this facility is intended to withstand a nuclear explosion and is equipped with independent features, such as providing water supply from springs in the mountains. Why Unique: Employees in this complex back and forth every day about 2000 feet down the tunnel, travel through several doors weighing 25-ton blast along the road. The engineers build this tunnel through solid granite. This facility was opened in 1966. "Granite is a very hard stone," said Hashash. "For a protective structure that is very good." 

13. MailRail Location: London, England 

Background: Several post offices in the basement have been experimenting with sending the letter. USPS is used in a complex system during the early 19th century, but London take a totally different approach and build an underground railway track scale that is used only for the package.
Why Unique: Approximately 23 miles of railway track running along MailRail letter, and is located 70 meters beneath the hustle and bustle of the streets of London. During the heyday of this system, an unmanned electric trains dragging as many as 4 million letters per day. The train can make it with the 6.5-mile tunnel in less than half an hour, stopping at nine stations along the way to sort mail. Use of the system in a gradual decrease until 2003, when the tunnels and rail abandoned because of cost constraints.
14. Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line Location: Kawasaki City, Japan 

Background: The bridge with a length of nearly 3-mile was added to the 6-mile-tunnel in earthquake-prone region. The structure was opened to traffic in 1997, serves as a means of commuting between Kawasaki and Kisarazu City City approximately 45 minutes each way. Why Unique: While a combination of bridges and tunnels exist throughout the world, large rest area built on an artificial island at the entrance of this tunnel makes Aqua-Line stood between them. The island, called Umi-Hotaru, which translates to "sea firefly," acted primarily as a resting place which consists of shops and restaurants, and observation deck that looks at the bay. 

15. PATH Tunnel System Location: Toronto, Canada 

Background: Canada in the winter can be brutal, but it provides a complex of tunnels under the ground a very large very quickly and warm to come to downtown Toronto. More than 100,000 passengers each day through an underground mall similar system, which is home to more than 1,200 retail stores. Why Unique: Several cities, including Houston, Minneapolis and Montreal, has an underground system similar, but Toronto made the biggest tunnel, about 16 miles. Accounting for psychological factors is an important consideration for this complex, Hashash said, especially when oriented towards pedestrians with their presence properly. Toronto developed a comprehensive signage system for the complex of tunnels during the 1990's, and every letter in the match with the color and represents a different direction. Commuters walk through the red can be sure they are heading south, while the orange would show that they are running to the west. 

16. Cu Chi Tunnels Location: Cu Chi, Vietnam 

Background: This vast labyrinth of tunnels that plays an important role in the strategy of the Vietcong during the French Indochina War and Vietnam War. Estimates on the actual size of the tunnel ranges from more than 150 miles. Why Unique: Vietcong tunnel systems built throughout Vietnam, but the tunnels at Cu Chi has become a popular tourist destination in recent years. Visitors can work their way through narrow spaces, check the deadly traps and even visiting the underground command center where the Tet offensive was planned. Some of the tunnel just a few meters, while others have been expanded to accommodate larger tourist. 

17. Gotthard Base Tunnel Location: Erstfeld, Switzerland 

Background: If the tunnel is already completed, this will be the longest transportation tunnel with a length of more than 35 kilometers. Drilling through the Swiss Alps is no easy task, so the deadline for completion has been back several years, and the cost has increased by billions of euros. Why Unique: Though the mountains, a train journey through the Gotthard Base Tunnel will remain at a height of nearly the same for the entire trip. "The need to maintain the elevation is an important consideration if you want to run high-speed rail through the tunnel," said Hashash. And while the project cost has increased, the tunnel can play an important role in increasing trade between Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Austria and many other European countries. 

18. Jiucyudong Tunnel Location: Taroko National Park, Taiwan 

Background: The man-made structure is also known as the Tunnel of Nine Turns, references to the dragon rolls popular in Chinese folklore and mythology. Why Unique: The Tunnel of Nine Turns through the cliffs and walk along the riverbank in the Taroko National Park, an area known for its rich geology, including jade forms endemic to Taiwan. Completed in 1996, the structure gives a glimpse of the unique formations of natural marble, stones that fell, although not cause a real threat-and helmets may be required for travelers.