Visitors travelling to the Faroe Islands may be surprised to encounter the world's first underwater roundabout during their stay. The roundabout is located within the Eysturoy Tunnel, which opened in December 2020 and has dramatically cut travel times between the various islands in the archipelago.

While situated approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland, the Faroe Islands are part of the Kingdom of Denmark, though they have maintained self-governance since 1948. The islands' location means that changeable weather patterns can present difficulties for travellers, leading to the creation of an expansive tunnel system - 17 on land and four under the sea, with the lowest point reaching 187m (613ft) beneath sea level. The Eysturoy Tunnel and its roundabout are believed to have reduced journey times from the capital, Torshavn, to the village of Runavik from one hour and 14 minutes to just 16 minutes.

The Faroe Islands consist of 17 inhabited islands along with many smaller islets and reefs.

Discussing the tunnel network, Súsanna Sørensen, marketing manager of Visit Faroe Islands, remarked: "Though we are 18 islands, we often joke that we defy the fact that we are islands (thanks to the tunnels)."

While the idea of driving through an undersea tunnel in the Northern Atlantic might appear intimidating, the tunnels were constructed with exactly this worry in mind.

Teitur Samuelsen, chief executive of Eystur-og Sandoyartunlar, the company operating the tunnels, said: "The tunnels are designed by the world's leading engineers and geologists, so safety with regards to the Atlantic above is not an issue."

According to CNN, the Eysturoy Tunnel is "magical" to navigate, with the roundabout appearing so striking that its colours have been likened to the Northern Lights, or even jellyfish.

Yet it is not solely this tunnel that boasts visual appeal — artwork and installations feature in several of the other tunnels too.

The Sandoy Tunnel serves as a prime example, connecting the islands of Streymoy and Sandoy. It is adorned with glow-in-the-dark totems, paying homage to figures from Faroese folklore.

Reflecting on the decision to invest in decorating these tunnels, Teitur Samuelsen remarked: "We have a lot of good art in the Faroes, and we'd like to support our artists. In addition, it breaks up the monotony in a long, dark tunnel, so it's good for driving safety."