Corinth Canal
The narrow cut through the Isthmus of Corinth, opened in 1893 to link the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf.
Overview
Ancient rulers dreamed of cutting the isthmus, and Nero even started digging in 67 AD, but for centuries ships were dragged across on the paved Diolkos trackway instead. Work on the modern canal began in 1881, and it opened in 1893. It is about 6.4 kilometers long with sheer limestone walls up to around 90 meters high, but only about 21 meters wide at sea level, too narrow for most modern cargo ships. Landslides have forced repeated closures. It saves vessels a long voyage around the Peloponnese and today serves mainly yachts, cruise ships and tourist boats.
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