Storebælt

Storebælt, meaning the Great Belt, is a strait in Denmark that separates the islands of Zealand (Sjælland) to the east from Funen (Fyn) to the west. It forms the eastern part of the Danish archipelago and is a major waterway that connects the Baltic Sea with the North Sea via the Kattegat and Skagerrak. The strait is roughly 18 kilometers wide at its narrowest point and carries heavy commercial shipping as well as ferries and fishing.

A key feature of Storebælt is the Great Belt Fixed Link (Storebæltsforbindelsen), a fixed road and rail crossing opened in 1998 that spans the strait. The link comprises a suspension bridge between Zealand and the mid‑strait region, together with an undersea tunnel on the opposite side that leads toward Funen. The combined bridge-tunnel system is about 18 kilometers long and carries both vehicular and railway traffic, including the European route E20.

Historically, Storebælt has been one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors and has long influenced Danish transportation planning. The fixed link significantly shortened travel times between Denmark’s two largest islands and altered ferry services and regional development. Today it remains a vital infrastructure element for commerce and mobility in Denmark, while the strait itself continues to support maritime navigation, fishing, and regional coastal activities.