– 1980
At
the time, it was the world's longest road tunnel.
It
stretches 16.3 kilometers (a little more than 10 miles), and it took
11 years to build.
On
this date in 1980, the Gotthard Road Tunnel opened, connecting
Switzerland to Italy. Don't get me wrong: people had been able to
travel from Switzerland to Italy before 1980, but on a road that goes through a
pass high in the Alps—and this road was often closed because of
snowy conditions. The Gotthard Road Tunnel cuts through the mountain
and can be used all year long.
 |
| Here Swiss workers celebrate the completion of the world's largest tunnel! |
Since this Swiss tunnel was opened, two longer tunnels have been built: a tunnel that is more than 11 miles long in China, and one that is more than 15 miles long in Norway! It's so hard to hold onto a world record for long.
I
wouldn't love to drive ten to fifteen miles through a tunnel, but it
might be better than driving some of these crazy roads.
 |
| This tunnel in Zion has some cut-out windows that give travelers framed views of the scenery! |
Speaking
of crazy, here are five crazy tunnels from around the world.
And how about five more? My favorite tunnel may be in Zion National Park (shown here, right).
Also
on this date:
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