Corinth Canal, an Engineering Marvel

Greece’s “Suez Canal,” an Engineering Marvel

The incredible Corinth Canal near ancient Corinth, Greece is proof of man’s ability to challenge and defeat “the impossible!” Originally, the Greeks constructed the canal as a shipping waterway and shortcut connecting the Ionian Sea with the Adriatic Sea. After centuries of attempts, workers eventually cut a four-mile shortcut between the Ionian Sea and the Adriatic Sea through solid rock. This canal is a “must see” when visiting Greece. The Corinth Canal eliminated 400 miles of sea travel and days at sea. Today the canal is mostly a tourist attraction. Your first visit will leave you speechless!

Why this Canal in this Place?

Greece is a country of many islands and is one of the most significant shipping countries in the world. Greek shipping is not new, but has been part of Greek history for centuries. The Greek Peloponnese Peninsula extends south into the Mediterranean Sea. `This peninsula connects the mainland of Greece with the narrow Isthmus of Corinth. Even the ancients understood that cutting a canal through the isthmus would eliminate 400 nautical miles from shipping lanes–a significant change to say the least.

Early Attempts to Build the Canal:

In 602 BC Periander (the tyrant of Corinth) conceived of a canal across the isthmus. The idea was good but, technology wasn’t up to the task. Instead, he constructed a stone road across the isthmus. Along this road, they pulled ships across the isthmus on wheeled platforms. Laborious, but ingenious! 300 years later Dimitrios actually tried to dig a canal, but his technicians stopped because they feared the Adriatic Sea would flood.

Julius Caesar, Hadrian, and Caligula tried to dig this canal, but they also stopped because of fear of flood. In AD 67 Nero attempted the same thing using 6,000 slaves, but he was murdered before the plans ever finalized. Many years later in the 1830s after the fall of the Ottoman Empire Kapodistrias (Greek governor) briefly reconsidered the idea of this canal. His plans, too, were halted; this time because of exorbitant cost–nearly $400,000,000 at that time.

So? Who Finally Built the Corinth Canal?

in 1869 the Greek Parliament authorized private companies to bid on building a canal through the isthmus. An Austrian company won the bid and began work in 1882. Once again, the cost was too much and the Austrians aborted canal construction. In 1890 a Greek company took over the project and completed this “impossible task. October 28, 1893 the Corinth Canal officially opened for business. What a feat!

What Made this Project so “Impossible?”

There are several reasons why this incredible project saw so many delays over so many centuries. To begin with, the cost was exorbitant–regardless of the timing! The isthmus itself is nearly all solid rock which is easy to see in Corinth Canal pictures. At completion in 1893 its dimensions were staggering. They dug the canal at sea level, but its walls are 260 feet high! Its width is only 82 feet–just enough to allow boats through, but saving shipping length by 400 miles.

The canal has two bridges; one spans the height and the other is at water level. The bridge at water level is one of a kind. Instead of constructing a draw bridge, the bridge goes BELOW the water and boats pass over it. Most amazing to witness. Unique to other such canals, it has no locks.

Significance of the Canal in World War II:

It’s easy to understand why this efficient and time saving waterway was important to the occupying Germans. Just as the canal enhanced Greek sipping, the Germans felt it was essential to maintain the canal in order to more quickly get troop supplies to Northern Africa. Consequently, the Germans built bunkers along both sides of the canal to keep Greeks from stopping their shipping.

The Battle of Corinth Canal occurred April 26, 1941. British troops attempted to defend the canal bridge from German parachutists but were unsuccessful. Consequently, the Germans captured the bridge. However, they did not know that the British rigged the bridge. So, when Germans captured the bridge, the British promptly blew it up. In defiance, the Greeks began to fill the canal with war debris such as tanks and trucks making it impossible to navigate.

The Corinth Canal Today

For some time after the war the canal closed, but eventually it opened to some shipping, but never at the pre-war level. It took a great deal of time and effort to clean the canal from the debris and the results of the 1941 blast. Until 2021 tour boats motored through the canal regularly. Mud slides in the canal during 2021, though, have caused the canal to remain closed for the foreseeable future.

If you like this blog, you may enjoy these:

Travelswithkathslamp.com has several additional blogs you may enjoy. There are blogs about Alaska and Africa as well as other places in the world. Specific blogs about locations near the Corinth Canal are: Dubrovnik, the Pearl of the Adriatic and Majestic Meteora and Montenegro-the Pearl of the Adriatic

Also, check out Dr. David Slamp’s book Tales of the Magnificent Med. You can purchase it in the Alaska Bookstore.