Considered by the American Society of Civil Engineers to be one of the seven wonders of the modern world, the Eurotunnel is one of the greatest infrastructure projects on the European continent.
The Eurotunnel is a 50.5 km long underwater railway tunnel, whose railway provides access between France and England, crossing a geographical barrier between the two territories, the Canal da Spot. The trip lasts 35 minutes, with an average speed of 160 kilometers per hour.
This work consists of three tunnels located between 40 and 70 meters below sea level. Two of its tunnels are used to transport cars, trucks and passengers, which, during the journey, are accommodated in the Eurostar train cars. The other tunnel is intended for ventilation.
With 50.5 kilometers in length, 37 kilometers under the English Channel, the Eurotunnel is currently considered the second longest railway tunnel in the world, second only to the Seikan Tunnel, which connects the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu in the Japan.
Inaugurated in 1994, the Eurotunnel was financed by the French and the British, at a cost of approximately 16 billion dollars. This construction is very important for the circulation of people and services in the region (the Eurotunnel receives more than seven million passengers a year), strengthening the economy of both nations.
By Wagner de Cerqueira and Francisco
Graduated in Geography
