The Longest Tunnel in the World Is Here in New York

The longest tunnel in the world is here in New York... and most of us have never even seen it.

There have been all kinds of records set in the Empire State, and while the world's largest garden gnome and the longest line of Hokey Pokey dancers are impressive, an amazing feat of engineering that is hiding right beneath our feet may have them all beat.

The Longest Tunnels in the World

There are several tunnel records across the world. The longest road tunnel, for example, is Laerdal Tunnel in Norway (below). "Road tunnel" means the route is intended for vehicle travel, and the 15.2-mile tunnel allows cars and trucks to more easily move across the country. It's nowhere close, however, to the record here in New York.

Longest Road Tunnel and Longest Rail Tunnel in the World

While the above-mentioned longest road tunnel is impressive at 15.2 miles, and the 35.4-mile-long Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland is the world's longest rail tunnel, neither hold a candle to the 105-mile tunnel hiding underneath the Hudson Valley in New York State (below).

The Longest Tunnel in the World Is in the Hudson Valley, NY

The longest tunnel in the world isn't made for cars, trucks, or even trains. Instead, the record-setting tunnel is an aqueduct, meaning that it's built for the travel of water. It's one of the most important pieces of infrastructure in the entire state.

The Delaware Aqueduct in New York State

The Delaware Aqueduct transports water from the Catskill Mountains down to Westchester County in Yonkers, NY. The massive tunnel can be as wide as 19 feet and as deep as 2,500 feet underground, and supplies nearly half of New York City's water.

Currently, a $1 billion project is happening right under the feet of Hudson Valley residents as a bypass tunnel for the aqueduct is being created under Newburgh, NY. Updates on the project can be found on the New York City Watershed's Facebook page.