Daishimizu Tunnel

The Daishimizu Tunnel (大清水トンネル^?) is a railway tunnel on the Jōetsu Shinkansen on the border of Gunma Prefecture and Niigata Prefecture, Japan.

In 1978, the Dai-Shimizu tunnel was completed. This tunnel was dug for the Jōetsu Shinkansen that was to be completed in 1982. This tunnel was the world's longest tunnel at 22,200 m.^[1] During the construction, there was a fire, which caused large amount of smoke to occur in the tunnel. Sixteen workers died from carbon monoxide poisoning.^[2][3] When this tunnel was completed, the time between Niigata and Tokyo went down to approximately one hour and forty minutes, three hours faster than using the Jōetsu Line.^[4]

See also: Shimizu Tunnel

Also, when this tunnel was built, natural water was found during construction, and is sold in bottles.^[5]

References

1. ^ website on tunnels
2. ^ History of Joetsu Shinkansen
3. ^ Detail of the fire
4. ^ Website on Shimizu tunnel
5. ^ Website on water

Coordinates: 36°49′47″N 138°55′01″E / 36.8296°N 138.917°E / 36.8296; 138.917