Corinth Canal in Greece | The Narrow shipping Channel in the World

Corinth Canal — A canal in Greece, connecting the Aegean Saronic Gulf and the Gulf of Corinth to the Ionian Sea. The canal was dug through the Isthmus of Corinth, which connects the Peloponnese peninsula with the mainland. It was named in honour of the city of Corinth, which is located at the western end of the canal. The canal is 6.4 kilometres in length and only 21.3 metres wide at its base. Earth cliffs flanking either side of the canal reach a maximum height of 63 metres.

Aside from a few medium-sized cruise ships, the Corinth Canal is not suitable for modern vessels. The channel walls are of natural origin, mainly limestone. Through the canal spanned one rail and three road bridges. Additionally, on both sides of the canal are submersible bridges. The dream of connecting the Corinthian Gulf with the Saronic Gulf, as envisioned by the ancient Corinthian tyrant Periandros in 602 BC, became a reality 2,500 years later.

Before the construction of the Corinth Canal, the sea route from the Aegean Sea to the Adriatic was 400 kilometres long because it had to bend around the Peloponnese. Therefore, the need to create such a structure stood before the Greek population in the days of antiquity. The first attempt to build a canal was made by the ruler Pericles of Corinth at the end of the 7th century BC. However, the technical possibilities of the time were not sufficient for the implementation of such a major project. The project was seriously engaged in by such famous people as Alexander the Great and the Roman Emperors Julius Caesar, Caligula, and Nero. In 67 BC, the project was pursued by Emperor Nero, who managed to build the first 3,000 metres from the side of the Corinthian Gulf, but the project was then abandoned.

Eventually, Nero died shortly after his return to Rome in 69 BC. In 1882, construction began on a modern Corinth Canal, with the famous French architect Ferdinand De Lesseps – the author of the Suez Canal – as the project's designer. The Canal was finally completed on October 28, 1893, by the French, who created this amazing landmark, which still has many travel routes. The Canal passes 15 thousand ships annually. Because of the narrowness of the channel, navigation problems, and frequent landslides, ship traffic has not been established here very smoothly. Currently, the Canal is mainly used as a tourist attraction. The view of the canal from the bridge of the old road is especially beautiful. And in the evening, when spotlights highlight the walls of the channel, it becomes a truly unforgettable sight.

First Image by Flickr user Dionisis