Nestled beneath the waters of the Atlantic Ocean lies a unique undersea roundabout, affectionately named after a jellyfish. This vibrant traffic circle is situated within a tunnel called Eysturoyartunnil, connecting two of the largest islands in the Faroe Islands.
The subsea tunnel, known as the Faroe Islands’ equivalent of the Eurostar, spans 6.9 miles and links Streymoy Island to Eysturoy Island, offering a quick eight-minute drive. At its core, 72 meters below the surface, lies the world’s first underwater roundabout.
Adorned with colorful lights, the roundabout, resembling a jellyfish, has garnered significant attention online. The tunnel itself exudes an eerie ambiance, particularly highlighted by the roundabout’s color-changing hues of blue, red, and green, with black silhouettes of faceless figures encircling it.
At the center of this unique roundabout stands a massive illuminated pillar of natural rock, a remnant from the tunnel’s construction. Renowned Faroese artist Tróndur Patursson adorned the pillar, surrounded by an 80-meter steel sculpture depicting life-size figures holding hands symbolizing unity and collaboration.
The figures face the central pillar, representing a journey from darkness into light, embodying the Faroese spirit of achieving greatness through cooperation. The underwater tunnel network, Eysturoyartunnil, opened on December 19, 2020, after just four years of construction, aiming to enhance connectivity and transform Faroese society.
Apart from reducing travel time between Tórshavn and Klaksvik by half to approximately 35 minutes, the tunnel, located 189 meters below the water’s surface at its lowest point, boasts three tubes converging at the colorful roundabout.
Constructed by the Faroese company Eystur- og Sandoyartunlar, this tunnel project represents the largest single investment in the Faroe Islands, totaling around €260m (£230m). Motorists crossing the deep Atlantic tunnel are required to pay a toll fee of 75 Danish krona (£8.60) each way, with the revenue expected to fund future tunnel projects on the islands.
Guðrið Højgaard, director of Visit Faroe Islands, expressed optimism that the new infrastructure will spread tourism benefits across the region and encourage local businesses to cater to visitors.