Inside the world’s only underwater roundabout between Scotland and Iceland

The Faroe Islands are set to open an under-sea roundabout following more than three years of construction (Credits: ABACA/PA Images)

Stunning images have revealed miles of undersea tunnels connecting a set of islands halfway between Scotland and Iceland.

The Faroe Islands have built 17 tunnels on land and four subsea -including the world’s only underwater roundabout – to deal with its unpredictable weather.

This makes it easier to navigate around the self-governing island – which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

‘Though we are 18 islands, we often joke that we defy the fact that we are islands (thanks to the tunnels),’ said Súsanna Sørensen, marketing manager of Visit Faroe Islands.

The islands are situated in the North Atlantic halfway between Iceland and Scotland. Last week the roundabout opened following more than three years of construction.

It is hoped that its opening will cut down the travel time between the capital Torshavn and Runavik from an hour and 14 minutes to just 16 minutes.

Every day, more than 6,000 vehicles travel through the tunnel connecting Streymoy, the largest of the Faroe Islands, with Eysturoy, the archipelago’s next biggest island.

The islands are connected by more than a dozen subsea tunnels (Credits: Alamy Stock Photo)

It took around four years to build the Eysturoy Tunnel and opened in December 2020.

At its lowest point, it sits about 614 feet below sea level.

‘The tunnels are designed by the world‘s leading engineers and geologists, so safety with regards to the Atlantic above is not an issue,’ Teitur Samuelsen, CEO of Eystur-og Sandoyartunlar, the company operating the tunnels, said.

Faroese artist Tróndur Patursson created the artwork which surrounds the roundabout.

The latest addition to the tunnels opened last week (Credits: ABACA/PA Images)

‘We have a lot of good art in the Faroes, and we’d like to support our artists,’ Samuelsen said.

‘In addition, it breaks up the monotony in a long, dark tunnel, so it’s good for driving safety.’

Musician Jens L. Thomsen composed a soundtrack that motorists can tune into while driving through.

It was created by ‘recording the sounds of the construction as well as the silence in the tunnel’, he said.

Since December 2023, Streymoy and Sandoy have been connected by the latest subsea tunnel, the Sandoy Tunnel.

About 1,000 vehicles a day navigate the approximately six-and-a-half-mile stretch that sits at least 508 feet below the sea bed.

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