The Canal

The Canal crosses the Isthmus of Corinth in a straight line at a length of 6,346 m. ​​Its width at sea level is 24.6 m and at its bottom 21.3 m, while its depth is between 7.50 and 8 m. However, the peculiar geological composition of its slopes resulted in the fall of large volumes of soil from time to time, as a result of which it remained closed for long periods of time. In total, from the beginning of its operation until 1940, the various collapses caused the closure of the Canal for a period of 4 years. The most important of these took place in 1923 when a volume of soil of 41,000 cubic meters fell and kept the canal closed for 2 years. Also, the canal was closed for a long time in 1944 due to the explosion of the slopes caused by the Germans leaving. A volume of 60,000 cubic meters of soil fell then, and the excavation works lasted 5 years (1944-1949). It should be noted that before the explosion, the Germans threw a significant number of railway vehicles into the Canal, to discourage the work of the explosion, which, as mentioned above, lasted 5 years. Also, today in the Canal there are two sinking bridges. One in Poseidonia and the other in Isthmia, to serve the communication between Sterea and the Peloponnese. Every year the waters of the Isthmus cross about 15,000 ships, at least 50 nationalities.