The So-Called 'Tunnel of Time': This is What Happens When Cars Pass Through It
This tunnel is located on the LP-3 road, on the island of La Palma, in Spain’s Canary Islands, and is called the La Cumbre tunnel. Drivers are always surprised by what happens when they exit it.
Where is the 'Tunnel of Time'?
In Spain, there are currently more than 400 tunnels spread across the country. One of the first road tunnels ever built and documented is the Lizarraga Pass tunnel. This construction took place between 1853 and 1859 to connect two regions of Navarra, Tierra Estella and La Barranca.
Car tunnels have been around for many years. In fact, one of the oldest is near Naples, specifically in Posillipo. It's a Roman road dating back to 36 BC and is 1,500 meters long. Speaking of the longest tunnel in our country, it’s known as Somport. It was inaugurated in 2003 and is 8.6 kilometers long. However, only five of those kilometers are in Spain, with the rest in France.
One of the most curious tunnels in Spain is on the island of La Palma. This tunnel is located on the LP-3 road and is called the La Cumbre tunnel. However, the locals and authorities in the area know it as the 'Tunnel of Time'.
What Happens in the 'Tunnel of Time' in La Palma?
A video of this tunnel on the island of La Palma went viral on social media. It is called this due to the changing weather conditions on either side of the mountain. When a car enters this tunnel, it encounters completely different weather upon exiting. Drivers pass from fog and rain to a clear sky with sunshine.
Why Does This Happen?
This phenomenon is due to the Foehn effect. As explained by the National Geographic Institute, it is the "warming of the air as it descends the leeward slopes of mountains." This typically occurs in mountainous terrains, especially when a mass of warm, moist air is forced to ascend to cross the mountain.
The water vapor cools and, after a condensation process, forms orographic clouds and rain. When this happens, there is usually a significant climate change between the two sides: one side is humid with rain, and the other is clear with high temperatures.