The Corinth Canal is an impressive artificial canal in Greece that connects the Gulf of Corinth in the Ionian Sea with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea.

       It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and “separates the Peloponnese peninsula from the rest of the mainland.”

       The idea of a canal in this region has existed since the seventh century BC, but it was not until the late 1890s that it was finally completed - the Suez Canal, meanwhile, was completed in 1869.

       At around four miles long but only 24.6 metres wide at sea level, it is now impossible for many modern cruise ships, despite the fact it saves a 430-mile journey around the Peloponnese.

       The canal consists of a single channel eight metres deep, excavated at sea level - thus requiring no locks. The rock walls rise 90 metres above sea level at a near-vertical 80-degree angle.

       The idea of a canal in this region originated with Periander of Corinth in the seventh century BC, but land options were taken instead due to the project’s enormity. Construction of a canal finally began under Roman Emperor Nero in 67 AD, using Jewish prisoners captured during the First Jewish–Roman War. However, the project ceased shortly after his death.

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       In subsequent centuries, the idea intrigues notable figures such as Herodes Atticus in the second century, but no attempts at construction were made. Construction finally recommenced in 1881—after Greece gained independence from the Ottoman Empire—but was hindered by geological and financial problems that bankrupted the original builders. It was eventually completed in 1893.

       However, due to the canal’s narrowness, navigational problems and period closures to repair landslides from its steep walls, the Corinth Canal failed to attract the traffic expected by its operators. Annual traffic of just under four million net tons had been anticipated, but by 1906, traffic had reached only half a million net tons annually.

       Today, it is of little economic importance and is mainly a tourist attraction.

       It is mainly used by smaller recreational boats. However, a notable expectation occurred in October 2019 when the cruise ship MS Braemar (sailing for Fred. Olsen Cruise Line) became the widest and longest ship to transit the canal.

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       Via a one-way system, ships can pass through the canal only one convoy at a time. Larger ships have to be towed by tugs. Around 11,000 ships, mainly tourist ships, travel through the waterway annually.

       The canal is crossed by a railway line, a road and a motorway at a height of about 45 metres. In 1988, submersible bridges were installed at sea level at each end of the canal by the eastern harbour of Isthmia and the western harbour of Poseidonia, providing two additional crossings for road traffic.

       In 2021, it closed for maintenance work, costing some ￡27 million, before reopening in June 2022. However, it closed again the following October for further restoration before opening in June 2023.

       Swimming competitions have also been held in the canal. Since 2016, participants in a "swim across the canal" race have swum through the 6,346-metre-long canal, which is considered one of Greece's biggest swimming events.