Travellers venturing to the Faroe Islands might be taken aback to discover the world's first underwater roundabout, just a two-hour flight from the UK. Nestled within the Eysturoy Tunnel, which was opened in December 2020, this roundabout has significantly slashed travel times across the island group.

The Faroe Islands, positioned roughly midway between Scotland and Iceland, belong to the Kingdom of Denmark, but have enjoyed self-governance since 1948. The islands' geographical location can result in unpredictable weather, posing challenges for travellers.

This led to the development of an extensive network of tunnels – 17 on land and four undersea, with the deepest section plunging 187m (613ft) below sea level.

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The Eysturoy Tunnel, stretching 6.9 miles long, and its unique roundabout are thought to have reduced travel times from the capital, Torshavn, to the village of Runavik from one hour and 14 minutes to a mere 16 minutes.

The Faroe Islands comprise 17 inhabited islands along with numerous smaller islets and reefs. Speaking about the tunnel system, Súsanna Sørensen, marketing manager of Visit Faroe Islands, quipped: "Though we are 18 islands, we often joke that we defy the fact that we are islands (thanks to the tunnels)."

While the prospect of driving through an undersea tunnel in the Northern Atlantic may seem daunting, the tunnels were constructed with precisely this apprehension in mind.

Teitur Samuelsen, chief executive of Eystur-og Sandoyartunlar, the firm running the tunnels, explained: "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, driving through the Eysturoy Tunnel is "magical", reports the Express.co.uk, with the roundabout so visually striking that its colours have been compared to the Northern lights, or even jellyfish.

This tunnel isn't the only one boasting aesthetic appeal – artwork and installations feature in several other tunnels across the network as well.

Consider the Sandoy Tunnel, for instance, which links the islands of Streymoy and Sandoy. It's adorned with glow-in-the-dark totems, paying tribute to figures from Faroese folklore.

Speaking about the choice to invest in enhancing these tunnels' appearance, Teitur Samuelsen noted: "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."