The Corinth Canal cuts the isthmus, the narrow strip of land joining the Peloponnese to the rest of Greece, and links the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf. Seen from above, with its sheer rock walls and turquoise water below, it is an impressive sight.
An ancient idea
The idea of cutting the isthmus is very old. In the 7th century BC the tyrant of Corinth Periander considered it but gave up; instead he built the diolkos, a paved road on which ships were hauled on trolleys from sea to sea, whose remains can still be seen. In AD 67 Emperor Nero inaugurated works with a golden spade and set thousands of slaves digging, but the project was abandoned after his death. It was revived only in the 19th century.
Construction
Work began in 1881 and the canal opened in 1893. It is about 6.3 km long, about 24 metres wide at water level and 8 metres deep, with walls up to about 80 metres high. Too narrow for modern ships, it is used mainly by yachts, small cruise ships and tourist boats. The walls are prone to landslides: in recent years the canal was closed for long periods for stabilisation work, and it may still close temporarily.
How to see it
- From the old bridge on the national road, with cafés and shops, you get the classic view.
- At both ends are submersible bridges that sink underwater to let ships pass: a curious sight.
- Tourist mini-cruises sail through the canal when it is open.
- For the brave there is bungee jumping of about 79 metres from the main bridge.
Nearby
A few kilometres away lies Ancient Corinth, with the Archaic Temple of Apollo, the Peirene fountain, the Roman forum and the bema where, by tradition, St Paul spoke, to whom he later wrote the Letters to the Corinthians. Above the town rises Acrocorinth, a vast mountaintop fortress overlooking both gulfs. Further south are Mycenae, Nafplio and Epidaurus.
See also the Peloponnese and itineraries.