Landmark: Hvalfjörður Tunnel of Iceland
Features: Subset Road Tunnel and part of Ring Road Route #1
Fjord: the Hvalfjörður fjord
Country: Iceland
Hvalfjörður Tunnel in Western Iceland is a subsea road tunnel under the Hvalfjörður fjord and a part of Route #1 – Ring Road. This popular tunnel has reduced the time to navigate the Hvalfjörður fjord from over an hour to just seven minutes. It is 5,770 meters (18,930 ft) long and reaches a depth of 165 meters (541 ft) below sea level.
Opened on 11 July 1998, it shortens the distance from Reykjavík to the western and northern parts of the country by 45 kilometers (28 mi). Passing the fjord now takes 7 minutes instead of about an hour.
This feat of engineering means that you can drive nearly 6 kilometers through this 165-meter underwater tunnel in Iceland, which shortens the distance between the capital city of Reykjavik and the northern or western parts of the island by at least 45 kilometers!
Happy Traveling & Exploring!