Top 10 Astonishing Facts About The Tunnel Of Love, Ukraine

The Tunnel Of Love by Дядя Саша – Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Astonishing Facts About The Tunnel Of Love ,Ukraine

Tunnel of Love is located between Klevan town and Orzhiv village in the Rivne region, Ukraine. The green corridor stretch is created by trees lined up in an arch of perfect circular shape with a railway tucked between the trees. This spectacular beauty has become a major tourist attraction, mainly for couples from all over the world.

The enchanting natural train tunnel is open to the public at any time of the year. However, it is best to visit here during autumn or summer, when nature paints the leaves in incredible colors and shades, from green to gold and crimson.

Below are ten interesting facts about Tunnel of Love:

1.There Exist Many Interesting Legends About The Tunnel

The Tunnel of Love by Дядя Саша  – Wikimedia Commons

Legend has it that the tunnel existed for centuries before it was discovered, and was once a haven for lovers fleeing from Castle Klevan. According to another interesting version, a young Polish engineer who fell in love with a girl from Klevan built a railway directly across the forest to shorten the road from Orzhiv, where he lived, to his beloved woman. However, the two eventually went different ways, and locals say that these people carried lifelong love.

However, a more traditional version reportedly traces the tunnel’s origin back to the tensions and secrecy of the Cold Wars. The railway was built for military purposes during the Soviet era. It is believed that the Ukrainian army deliberately planted trees alongside the track to disguise the transportation of military hardware.

With time, the military left, and nature transformed the tunnel into a real beauty, a unique arched structure and when a freight train from the woodworking plant in Orzhiv began running on the track every day and hit the branches of trees and bushes, its shape became perfect.

2.The Tunnel Of Love Was Discovered About Ten Years Ago

The Tunnel of Love was relatively unknown to the general public until it became widely popular on the internet in 2011. A group of tourists wandering in the bushes on the outskirts of Klevan suddenly found themselves on a railway track hidden among trees. They took a picture and shared it on Facebook, where it spread like wildfire.

However, this sight was unbelievable to many people as some suspected use of Photoshop. Following this incident, an RFE/RL journalist and photographer Amos Chapple visited and explored the site, sharing more details about the enchanting tunnel. As a result of its growing publicity and exposure on social media, visitors from around the world travel to see the famous tree tunnel further dispelling doubts about its existence.

3.One Of The Most Romantic Places In Ukraine

Apart from the romantic legends that the locals believe, the enchanting tunnel has an unusual aura, giving the atmosphere of a place where dreams come true, and hearts unite. This aura is represented by a green arch, and the two rails represent the paths of two lives.

There are several beliefs about the tunnel and its peculiarities. Couples believe that a kiss in the tunnel will strengthen their love, and if they stand on the rails and embrace, they will never part ways. The tunnel is popular with newlyweds who love to take wedding pictures here and even plant flowers to symbolize their tender and passionate feelings.

4.A Lyrical Drama Movie Was Filmed At And Named After The Tunnel Of Love

Film title from The Tunnel of Love trailer by screenshot –Wikimedia Commons

Japanese director Akiyoshi Imazaki filmed a movie in the tunnel. Fascinated by the beauty of the tunnel, Imazaki not only brought a film crew to Ukraine and shot a wonderful lyrical drama but also renamed the film “Klevan- Tunnel of Love.”

The main role in the movie dedicated to the hardships of a young couple was played by the favorite of the Japanese audience, 17-year-old model and actress Miki Honoka. The film premiered in November 2015 at the Hanoi International Film Festival. This way, the whole world learned about the natural beauty of Ukraine.

5.The Length Of The Tunnel Of Love Is Disputed

The Tunnel of Love by Msha at Ukrainian Wikipedia-Wikimedia Commons

In his account of the tunnel, journalist Amos Chapple does not mention how long the track extends. According to the Russian Wikipedia, the tunnel is four kilometers, while the English Wikipedia claims it to be three kilometers long.

6.Accidents Have Occurred In The Tunnel Of Love

Train passing through The Tunnel of Love by Дядя Саша   – Wikimedia Commons

Three or more trains per day pass through the Tunnel of Love, carrying loads of plywood from a nearby factory, although some days there are none. Tourists on the train are often a problem for the train operators, so they are required to keep a sharp eye on the track. In an isolated incident in 2015, a 38-year-old Japanese woman was reportedly hit by a train and, as a result, suffered a hip fracture.

7.The Tunnel Of Love Has Featured In Commercials For Famous Brands

In 2012, the Japanese company Fujifilm shot a 40-second video, the characters suddenly falling from a solid green wall into a tunnel and quickly capturing various shots with a brand new camera.

8.Tunnel Of Love Is One Of The Most Photographed Places In Ukraine

This fascinating natural train tunnel is surrounded by green arches of lush vegetation formed by trees on both sides of the single-track railway line, making it one of the most popular picturesque spots in Ukraine.

In different seasons of the year, lights and shadows play in a unique way inside the tunnel, and as such, photographers adore this place. Couples and newlyweds often have photo shoots along this track.

9.The Tunnel Of Love Is Part Of An Industrial Railroad Track Near Klevan, Ukraine

The tunnel starts a few hundred meters from the Odek plywood factory in the village of Orzhiv. Wood from across Ukraine is trucked into the factory, where it is processed into plywood panels.

The finished plywood panels are loaded onto large containers and transported by trains to the Klevan railway junction. From Klevan, they are taken along the main trunk line to markets across West Europe. The trains run to Klevan through the Tunnel of Love several times a day, depending on how much plywood there is to transport.

10.The Tunnel Of Love Is Kept Neatly Trimmed By The Odek Plywood Factory

The tunnel has no official guardian. When the Odek plywood mill cut down several trees to aid the passage of the trains a few years ago, there was a huge public outcry and objections from the local people.

Consequently, the factory has not interfered with the trees since. To this day, the Tunnel of Love is maintained by the industrial freight trains operated by the Odek plywood factory clipping the forest trees when they travel along the railroad.