Funen is located in the central part of the country and has a population
of 454,358 inhabitants (2010). The main city is Odense, connected to
the sea by canal, though this canal is now seldom used. The city's
shipyard Odense Steel Shipyard has been relocated outside of Odense
proper.
Funen belongs administratively to Region of Southern Denmark.
From 1970–2006, the island formed the biggest part of Funen County,
which also included the islands of Langeland, Ærø and Tåsinge, as well
as a number of smaller islands.
Funen is linked to Zealand, Denmark's
largest island, by the Great Belt Bridge carrying both trains and cars.
The Great Belt Bridge is in reality two bridges; a low bridge
connecting Funen to the small island of Sprogø in the middle of the
Great Belt and a long suspension bridge the rest of the way to Zealand.
The suspension bridge was the second longest in the world at the time of
opening. From Funen to Sprogø, trains use a separate bridge parallel to
the low bridge and constructed in a similar way. A tunnel connects
Sprogø with Zealand, forming the other half of the railway connection.
Two
bridges connect Funen to the Danish mainland, Jutland. The Old Little
Belt Bridge was constructed in the 1930s shortly before World War II for
both cars and trains. The New Little Belt Bridge, a suspension bridge,
was constructed in the 1970s and is used for cars only
