Inauguration of the Corinthos Canal

The tyrant of Corinthos, Periandros, studied first in the 6th century BC the possibility of opening a canal at the Isthmus of Corinthos.  Two thousand three hundred years later, the new sea road became a reality. In the meantime, many historical figures attempted the feat, to name just a few: Demetrios I of Macedon, Julius Caesar, Caligula, Nero were among those who tried to penetrate the Corinthian land. The Byzantines and the Venetians followed them and, after the Liberation, governor Kapodistrias.

The 19th century was the right time for its achievement, and the project was completed during the last years of the century. The final phase began during the government of Zaimis in 1869, and the inauguration took place during the government of Sotiropoulos in 1893. The canal has a length of 6,346 meters, and its width is 24,6 meters on sea level and 21,3 meters at the sea bottom. Its depth varies between 7,5 and 8 meters.