Tunnels and sheep abound in the Faroe Islands.

Over 70,000 sheep live in the Faroe Islands, home to 54,000 people.

There are over 20 tunnels, some underwater.

Faroe Islands, halfway between Iceland and Norway, have two odd “obsessions”: tunnels and sheep. In this place with imposing cliffs, green slopes, and steep mountains, you’ll likely encounter underground passages and dishevelled creatures every day.

A growing number of tunnels is the best way to connect the 18 islands of this autonomous Danish territory, but sheep are part of its history and identity. The Faroe Islands, meaning “Sheep Islands,” have 54,000 people and 70,000 sheep.

A tunnel-filled place
Residents and visitors have long had mobility restrictions in the archipelago. The islands’ steep slopes and formations make them uneven. This makes the landscape charming, but it makes it hard to build roads between urban centres.

First Faroese tunnels were built in 1960s. Previously, people drove through mountains to reach certain destinations. Nearly 60 years later, residents have interconnected roads and 20 underground routes. Four are underwater and 17 are on land.

The first underwater tunnel on the islands opened over 20 years ago. The almost five-kilometre Vágatunnilin opened in 2022 and connects Streymoy to Vágar. Its only airport is the islands’ main gateway, making this connection crucial.

Before the tunnel opened, Vágar-Streymoy was only accessible by ferry, which had limited timetables, weather-dependent crossings, and longer journey times. The opening of VágartunnelenNodrastically reduced these issues.

Norðoyartunnilin, the second underwater tunnel, opened in 2006. It spans 6.3 km and links Klaksvík on Borðoy, the second largest town in the Faroe Islands, to Leirvík on Eysturoy. The project is successful because 4,000 cars pass through daily.

In 2020, authorities opened the Eysturoyartunnilin tunnel, connecting Skálafjørður and Eysturoy. This work is notable for several reasons. A fourth tunnel was built, but it remains the longest (11.2 km) and most ambitious because it includes an underwater roundabout.

The 10.8-km Sandoyartunnilin is the islands’ newest tunnel. This road links Sandoy and Streymoy. At its lowest point, this section is 155 meters deep, and 700 vehicles pass daily. The islands’ land connection has changed dramatically in recent years.

The pictures show that the tunnels are more than impressive engineering. Artworks by Faroese artists turn boring walls into art galleries. They also want to boost tourism as an alternative to fishing and agriculture.

Island tunnels are not all transport-related. There are many others. To increase the capacity of the Faroe Islands’ Eidis hydroelectric power station, the authorities have put out to tender drilling through mountainous areas to build tunnels that can carry large volumes of water.

The Sheep Kingdom
The first Irish settlers brought sheep to the Faroe Islands centuries ago, according to several studies. Today, the islands focus on sheep farming for meat and wool, fishing, and whaling. According to BBC’s Tim Ecott, most families in this region still work with flocks.

Sheep symbolise many aspects of island life. The animals are everywhere. They appear in the Tourist Board logo, Black Sheep beer, and several monuments as well as eating grass everywhere, including at Vágar Airport. Sheep View, mapped with sheep, is the Faroese version of Google Street View.

Tunnels and sheep abound in the Faroe Islands.

By ki0nk

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Tunnels and sheep abound in the Faroe Islands.

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