How long is the Channel Tunnel?
The Channel Tunnel is about 50 kilometres, or 31 miles, long, with about 38 kilometres under the sea. Opened in 1994, it links Folkestone in England with Coquelles near Calais in France.
The tunnel's undersea section is the longest of any tunnel in the world. Trains reach depths of about 75 metres below sea level.
The tunnel actually consists of three tunnels: two rail tunnels and a central service tunnel used for maintenance and emergencies.
Building the tunnel
Construction began in 1988. Teams from Britain and France dug toward each other and met in 1990. The project was one of the largest engineering projects of the 20th century.
The tunnel was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II and French President Francois Mitterrand on 6 May 1994.
Eurostar passenger trains travel through the tunnel between London and Paris or Brussels. LeShuttle trains carry cars, coaches and trucks.
The crossing takes about 35 minutes on LeShuttle. The tunnel was named one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.