The narrowest ship canal in the world wich connects Aegean and Mediterranean Sea.
The Corinthian channel is the narrowest ship canal in the world and connects the Saronic gulf of the Aegean Sea to the Gulf of Corinth of the Ionian Sea. The channel received the name in honor of the city of Corinth. Length makes it 6 kilometers, depth of 8 meters, and height of walls reaches 76 meters.
From deep antiquity near ancient Corinth, on the isthmus connecting Peloponnese to Attica – the southern continental Greece, there passed so-called "Diolkos" – a special way which the ships from the Aegean Sea in Ionic and viceversa moved by land. Thus, not only considerable time in way to a round of the peninsula of Peloponnese was saved, but also the economy of Corinth and vicinities actively developed.
History of the Corinthian channel
Presumably from 7th century BC minds of many governors and architects were taken by the idea of construction of the channel which considerably would facilitate the sea message in the region. The set of factors interfered with construction, fear was basic of which that because of discrepancy of levels of the Aegean and Ionic seas, flooding of the area is possible. Nevertheless, in the 67th year AD there was a desperate person – the Roman emperor Neron who aimed to build the channel after all. About 6000 slaves, and also mechanics from Egypt participated in construction. However, after the death of the emperor, works stopped. Only in 1881, after unsuccessful attempts of different businessmen, the Greek private company started working and rapidly I finished construction of the channel which remained long centuries the impracticable idea.
In 1893 the Corinthian channel was put in operation that more than allowed the courts which were earlier bending around Peloponnese to reduce a way by 400 kilometers.
Large ocean vessels, about 20 meters wide don't pass through the Corinthian channel. Because of danger of washout of walls, heavy-tonnage vessels pass the channel on the tow. On bridges of the channel practice bungee jumping. Bungee jumping from height of 78 meters - an extreme attraction, popular on Peloponnese; the majority of jumps, and also instructing for beginners will be organized on the weekend. Height of a jump can ask to be adjusted; however, most of tourists and locals choose the most extreme option with a contact of-headed water.
It is possible to reach the Corinthian channel by the regular buses plying to Peloponnese. They go on the old road and do a stop at the channel. One more way to observe a man-made place of interest - a travel on E94 (8) Highway passing on one of three automobile bridges over the channel. The observation deck is located on the old bridge which it is possible to reach on the western road laid between Corinth and Lutraki; the parking and small gift shop are near.
Eight-day cruises with calling the Corinthian channel go from the port of Piraeus - Athens. In Corinth it is possible to rent the boat with the driver; the travel on the channel with an excursion on average takes a couple of hours. Boats go from early morning to late evening; with a sunset the waterway is especially beautiful.
