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The Corinth Canal (Διώρυγα της Κορίνθου) connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It’s a popular stop on the tourist trail.
History of the Corinth Canal
The idea for the Corinth Canal dates back to antiquity. The first to propose it was Periander, the tyrant of the Cypselid dynasty from 627 to 585 BC. He gave up due to the high expenses of the project and instead built the Diolkos, an ancient portage road.
Demetrius I (336–283 BC) was next, but his surveyors miscalculated the sea levels. Julius Caesar and Caligula both died before they were able to make any progress. Nero personally broke ground on a canal project in 67, but it was abandoned after he died two years later. Herodes Atticus (101-177) and the Venetians both considered digging a canal in the 2nd century and 1687, respectively. A modern Corinth Canal project gained steam in 1830 when it was proposed by Greek politician Ioannis Kapodistrias (1776-1831), but it was found to be too expensive.
Finally, in 1881, a concession was granted to the International Society of the Corinth Maritime Canal (Société Internationale du Canal Maritime de Corinthe). Construction began on April 23, 1882, with King George I present. The company went bankrupt eight years into construction, but company head István Türr (1825-1908) found a way to raise additional funds. Construction resumed with the project transferred to a Greek company. It was finally completed on July 25, 1893.
In 1944, during World War II, retreating Nazi forces blocked the canal using explosives. The US Army Corp of Engineers worked to clear the debris starting in September 1947. It reopened on July 7, 1948.
The Corinth Canal never lived up to expectations. It’s very narrow, making navigation difficult, and the anticipated traffic never materialized. There’s also the danger of sedimentary rock sliding off the canal walls.
Features of the Corinth Canal
The canal is 8 meters (26 feet) deep and requires no locks. It’s 6,343 meters (20,810 feet) long by 24.6 meters (81 feet) wide. The rock walls are 90 meters (300 feet) above sea level. It’s crossed by two railway lines, a motorway, a road bridge, and a pedestrian bridge. There’s a submersible bridge at both ends.
The Corinth Canal saves a 700 kilometer (430 mile) journey around the Peloponnese but it’s too narrow for modern ocean vessels. Ships have to cross one at a time on a one-way system, and larger ships are towed by a tug. Although about 11,000 vessels cross annually, it’s mostly used by tourist ships and small pleasure craft.
Visiting the Canal
Tour buses passing between Athens and the Peloponnese often stop at the canal. There’s a pedestrian walkway that crosses it, and you’ll find souvenir shops on either side. If you’re feeling brave, there’s a bungee jumping platform.
Monument to the Engineers
A monument to Hungarians István Türr (1825-1908) and Béla Gerster (1850-1923) stands on one side of the canal. They were the principal engineers on the project and oversaw its construction. The monument has inscriptions in Greek, Hungarian, and English.
