Tunnel Masters

The geology of the Faroe Islands is extreme. Massive layers of basalt and tuff formed by volcanic activity 50 to 60 million years ago are stacked like a giant cake with hard basalt flows separated by thinner and softer layers of volcanic ash or clay. Over millions of years, glacial erosion carved the landscape into deep fjords and vertical cliffs that often rise over 2000 feet straight from the sea.

The islands now contain over 20 tunnels including the Eysturoy tunnel which reaches a depth of 620 feet below sea level and features the first undersea roundabout in the world. Engineers utilize the predictable layering of the basalt to map out paths through the mountains although the softer tuff layers can still cause stability issues during construction. This network has transformed the archipelago from a collection of isolated outposts into a single and connected community.

Before the first tunnel was blasted in 1963, the sea was the primary highway. Each village was a self contained unit accessible mainly by the traditional Faroese boat, which was a double ended rowing vessel designed to navigate the turbulent currents of the North Atlantic.

For land travel, residents used narrow footpaths that climbed directly over the mountain ridges. These routes often required ascents of 1500 to 2000 feet just to reach a neighboring valley. The Postman's Route to Gásadalur is a famous example of this era where the mail was carried by hand over a mountain pass twice a week regardless of the weather.Read more