Today, we’re going way further than traffic and mundane commutes. In today’s blog, we shall go through the list of the longest tunnels in the world. These tunnels are not just a hole in the ground; they are an extraordinary example of human feats. These tunnels represent the peak of human ambitions. They are connecting cultures, shortening distances, and defeating natural barriers.
From the highest of the Alps to the lowest of the seas, here is the list of the world’s longest tunnels. In this blog, we shall take a look at the longest tunnel in the world and its history, engineering, and everything in between.
18 Longest Tunnels in the World that You Need to Know About
Let’s take a look at the longest tunnel in the world based on its size and location. We will go through the list of underwater tunnels, railway and metro tunnels, and finally, we will take a look at the longest tunnels on the road.
We will go through the shortest among these long tunnels to the longest tunnel in the world.
| Category | Tunnel Name | Length (km) | Location |
| Water | Delaware Aqueduct | 137 km | New York, USA |
| Päijänne Water Tunnel | 120 km | Southern Finland | |
| Dahuofang Water Tunnel | 85.3 km | Liaoning, China | |
| Orange–Fish Tunnel | 82.8 km | South Africa | |
| Metro | Shanghai Metro Line 11 | 82.4 km | Shanghai, China |
| Guangzhou Metro Line 3 | 74.83 km | Guangzhou, China | |
| Nanjing Metro Line S1 | 36.3 km | Nanjing, China | |
| Chongqing Metro Line 6 | 31.13 km | Chongqing, China | |
| Beijing Subway Line 10 | 24.69 km | Beijing, China | |
| Railway | Gotthard Base Tunnel | 57 km | Switzerland |
| Seikan Tunnel | 53.85 km | Japan | |
| Channel Tunnel | 50.46 km | UK–France | |
| Yulhyeon Tunnel | 50.3 km | South Korea | |
| Songshan Lake Tunnel | 38.81 km | China | |
| Road | Lærdal Tunnel | 24.5 km | Norway |
| Yamate Tunnel | 18.2 km | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Jinpingshan Tunnel | 17.54 km | China | |
| Gotthard Road Tunnel | 17 km | Switzerland |
4 Longest Water Tunnels and Where They Are
1. Orange–Fish Tunnel:
Built in 1976, the Orange-Fish Tunnel is one of South Africa’s greatest engineering marvels. The tunnel is built to last for 300 years. The main purpose of the tunnel, as part of the Orange River Project, is to provide water for urban and industrial use in the Fish River Valley. It diverts water from the Orange River to the Eastern Cape for irrigation.
- Length: 82.8 km
- Location: Central South Africa
2. Dahuofang Water Tunnel:
As one of the longest tunnels in the world, Dahuofang is more than an engineering marvel. It took China three years to build this water supply tunnel. The tunnel is the largest reservoir diversion project in the world. It is designed to carry water from high rainfall areas to the industrial area of Shengyang, China.
- Length: 85.3 km
- Location: Liaoning Province, China
3. Päijänne Water Tunnel:
Päijänne Water Tunnel is the second-longest tunnel in the world. The tunnel transports freshwater from Lake Päijänne to the Greater Helsinki region, acting as the source of water to millions. Built between 1973 and 1982, the Päijänne water tunnel is nothing less than a miracle. It is the perfect representation of human ambition and determination.
- Length: 120 km
- Location: Southern Finland
4. Delaware Aqueduct:
The longest tunnel in the world, the Delaware Aqueduct, is the source of half of New York’s water supply. The tunnel supplies 1.0 billion US gallons (3,800,000 m3) of water per day. It was built between 1937 and 1953. It was later extended in 1965. The tunnel spans the Delaware River from Minisink Ford, New York, to Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania.
- Length: 137 km
- Location: New York, USA
So, these are the four longest water tunnels in the world. But what about metro tunnels? Let’s see the longest metro tunnels as well, shall we?
5 Longest Metro Tunnels in the World and Where They Are
Here’s the list of the 5 longest metro tunnels in the world:
1. Beijing Subway Line 10:
Beijing Subway Line 10 is the second-longest metro line in China. It runs entirely underground through Haidian, Chaoyang, and Fengtai Districts. It is the busiest metro line in Beijing. Built in 2008, the metro line is critical for the metropolitan life of Beijing, China.
- Length: 24.69 km
- Location: Beijing, China
2. Chongqing Metro Line 6:
Chongqing Metro Line 6 is one of the longest subway lines in China. The line is the main part of the Chongqing Rail Transit (CRT) system. This is the longest tunnel in the world for a metro and also the second heavy subway line in Chongqing. Being such a crucial part of Chongqing, an economic centre of China, this metro line is part of China’s economic transaction.
- Length: 31.13 km
- Location: Chongqing, China
3. Nanjing Metro Line S1:
Nanjing Metro Line is one of the longest tunnels in the world. It links Nanjing South railway station to Nanjing Lukou International Airport. It is one of the most important metro lines in China’s suburban life. It serves the southern suburbs of Nanjing.
- Length: 36.3 km
- Location: Chongqing, China
4. Guangzhou Metro Line 3:
This metro line connects Haibang and Airport North (Terminal 2) stations. The entire metro line is located in tunnels, which is why it is such a prominent part of the list of the longest tunnels in the world. It connects the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport with key city landmarks like Zhujiang New Town (CBD) and the Canton Tower.
- Length: 74.83 km
- Location: Guangzhou, China
5. Shanghai Metro Line 11:
Shanghai Metro Line 11 is the longest tunnel in Shanghai. It is the first cross-province metro line in China. It travels through 39 metro stations, through the Disney Resort terminal. If you are planning on visiting the Disney Resort, this is the metro line you must travel through.
- Length: 82.4 km
- Location: Shanghai, China
Now that we have taken a look at the 5 longest metro tunnels in the world, it is only right to check the longest tunnel in the world for railways, isn’t it?
5 Longest Railway Tunnels and Where They Are
Here is everything you need to know about the longest tunnel in the world for railways.
1. Songshan Lake Tunnel:
Songshan Lake Tunnel is the longest railway tunnel in China, and the fifth-longest tunnel in the world. It is key in linking the country’s suburban area to its industrial areas. It is designed to help in transporting goods, as well as passengers. It has reduced traffic, travel time, and boosted the overall productivity of Chinese industries.
- Length: 38.813 km
- Location: Dongguan, China
2. Yulhyeon Tunnel:
Opened in 2016, Yulhyeon is the fourth-longest tunnel in the world. It took three years and five months to complete the tunnel. It was built under the Korean government’s “half-day life zone” plan, which aimed at making transportation so seamless that citizens can travel anywhere in the country in half a day. It connects Suseo to stations in major cities like Seoul and Pyeongtaek.
- Length: 50.3 km
- Location: Suseo, South Korea
3. Channel Tunnel:
The Channel Tunnel is the only thing that connects the UK to the European mainland. It is also the longest underwater tunnel in the world. It is designed to link the UK and France via rail. It was built between 1987 and 1991 and opened in 1994. It carries both passenger (Eurostar) and freight (Le Shuttle) services from both countries, to and fro. This tunnel has significantly reduced the travel times between these two countries.
- Length: 50.46 km
- Location: Folkestone, UK
4. Seikan Tunnel:
The Seikan Tunnel holds the record for being the longest underwater tunnel in the world. The tunnel connects the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido beneath the Tsugaru Strait. It was designed by the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency (JRTT) to withstand earthquakes and tsunamis. Opened on March 13, 1988, it is one of the most brilliant works of engineering in the world.
- Length: 53.85 km
- Location: Hokkaido, Japan
5. Gotthard Base Tunnel:
Located deep in the Alps, the Gotthard Base Tunnel is the longest railway tunnel in the world. The tunnel has almost doubled the freight capacity on the Swiss North-South Axis. The tunnel has many advanced technologies for the safety of every train that travels through it. It has sophisticated systems that scan trains for issues such as hot spots or shifted loads before they enter the tunnel. The tunnel also includes underground, pressurized escape tunnels that lead to multifunction stations for emergency stops and evacuation.
- Length: 57 km
- Location: Erstfeld, Switzerland
Now that was the longest tunnel in the world for railways, what about roads? Who doesn’t like a long road trip that also takes you through thrilling tunnels? So, let’s get into the 5 longest tunnels in the world for an unforgettable car ride.
4 Longest Tunnels in the World and Where They Are
Here are the 4 longest tunnels in the world.
1. Gotthard Road Tunnel:
Let’s go back to the Alps again. Just parallel to the Gotthard Base Tunnel is the Gotthard Road Tunnel. It runs from Göschenen, Uri, at its northern portal, to Airolo in Ticino to the south. It takes 13 minutes to travel from one end to the other end of the tunnel. It is one of the most beautiful journeys you can embark on in the Swiss Alps.
- Length: 17 km
- Location: Göschenen, Switzerland
2. Jinpingshan Tunnel:
Just a bit longer than Gotthard, Jinpingshan is one of the longest tunnels in the world for car rides. The tunnel leads to the Jinping Dam, which is the highest in the world. It is crossed only by authorized vehicles. Because of this, there is pretty little information about the tunnel.
- Length: 17.54 km
- Location: Yanyuan County, Japan
3. Yamate Tunnel:
It is the longest urban tunnel in the world. The Yamate Tunnel connects major Tokyo districts like Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro. It is one of the most important tunnels in Japan. It is recognized for using advanced systems for ventilation, fire suppression, and traffic monitoring to ensure safety and efficiency.
- Length: 18.2 km
- Location: Yanyuan County, Japan
4. Lærdal Tunnel:
Lærdal is the longest tunnel in the world. According to Norway’s Tunnel and Tunnelling, the country with the largest number of tunnels in the world, there are 881 road tunnels and around 700 railway tunnels. Lærdal is equipped with support and cable ladders from Oglaend System. To ease the drive through the 25 km-long tunnel, there is a huge hall every 6 km. It takes more than 20 minutes to travel from one end to another of this tunnel.
- Length: 24.5 km
- Location: Vestland county, Norway
Conclusion:
We’ve travelled deep beneath mountains, rivers, and cities, exploring the engineering marvels that defy natural barriers and connect our world. From the life-giving Delaware Aqueduct to the record-breaking Gotthard Base Tunnel, these structures are more than just long passages; they are testaments to human ingenuity and a relentless drive to innovate.
These tunnels stand as a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we push the boundaries of technology and ambition. They’ve reshaped landscapes, transformed economies, and made our world feel a little smaller and more connected. The next time you journey through the longest tunnel in the world, take a moment to appreciate the incredible vision and effort that made it possible.
FAQs
1. Which country has the most tunnels?
Norway has the most tunnels in the world. It has more than 1,200 road tunnels.
2. Which is the shortest tunnel in the world?
The shortest tunnel in the world is Backbone Rock Tunnel in Shady Valley, Tennessee, USA.
3. What is the world’s deepest tunnel?
The Gotthard Base Tunnel is the deepest in the world. It reaches a depth of 2,300 meters (7,500 feet). This makes it the deepest, as well as the longest tunnel in the world.
