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2010-10-07 06:23:40
Wed Oct 6, 5:27 pm ET
Like to hold your breath while going through tunnels? We won't recommend you try it in the Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland.
The tunnel has been under construction since 1993, and upon its scheduled completion at the end of 2017, it will span 35 miles -- the longest rail tunnel on the planet.
The current title belongs to Seikan Tunnel in Japan. Completed in 1988, it stretches 33.49 miles, a large portion of which is underwater. The world-famous Channel Tunnel (aka the Chunnel ) measures 31.4 miles. While those two tunnels go underwater, the Swiss tunnel will zoom through the Alps, traveling between Zurich and Milan in about two and a half hours.
Such incredible feats of engineering may lead some to wonder how tunnels are made. Rather than make a feeble attempt at explaining a process that leaves us dumbfounded, we'll instead point you toward How Products Are Made. The site explains the basics of how tunnels are constructed, reinforced, and tested.