The Cut through the Rock

The Corinth Canal

It is a strange feeling to stand here at the edge of this enormous gorge. Just 25 metres wide but almost 80 metres deep, the Corinth Canal cuts off the Greek mainland from the Peloponnese. Below, small ships glide slowly through the calm waters, while above, tourists gaze spellbound into the depths – and can hardly believe that this cut through the rock was actually created by human hands.

A dream of antiquity
The idea of separating the Peloponnese from the mainland by means of a canal dates back to ancient times. As early as the 6th century BC, the tyrant Periander is said to have considered digging a canal to avoid the dangerous detour around Cape Malea. The Romans also toyed with this idea – Emperor Nero even began construction in 67 AD. He is said to have broken ground with golden shovels. But the project failed: too expensive, too complex, too geologically risky. For centuries, people made do with the so-called Diolkos, a paved road over which ships were pulled overland on rollers.

Geological challenge
The terrain here is unique: limestone and sandstone formations, criss-crossed by cracks and layers that caused engineers headaches. The dream remained unfulfilled for over 2,000 years – until the 19th century brought technological progress. In 1881, French engineers began construction, but a lack of money and the difficult geology forced them to give up. Finally, it was Greek and Hungarian entrepreneurs who completed the work. In 1893, after around ten years of construction, the canal was opened – a triumph of engineering, but also a financial adventure that ruined many.

A miracle - and a risk
Today, the canal is a monument to engineering. But it is not just a tourist attraction: it shortens the sea voyage between the Ionian and Aegean Seas by around 300 kilometres. However, it is almost too narrow for modern shipping. Large freighters have to sail around it, and even smaller ships can only pass through the narrow channel slowly.

Again and again the geology worries the operator: the fragHowever, the geology continues to cause concern for operators: the brittle rock is prone to landslides. Most recently, the canal had to be closed for almost two years in 2021 after several masses of rock had fallen into the depths. Millions were spent on reinforcing the embankments. It was not until 2023 that it could be reopened for regular use.ile rock is susceptible to landslides. Finally, the channel had to be closed for almost two years in 2021 after several rock masses had fallen into the depths. The securing of the bank walls was reinforced with millions. It was not regularly opened until 2023.

Today and tomorrow
Now cruise ships and excursion boats are once again flowing through the gorge. Tourists wave from the bridges high above, while the shouts of the captains echo below. The Corinth Canal is no longer an economic bottleneck – it is too small for that in the age of container ships. But it remains a symbol: of the ancient dream of cutting through landscapes, shortening routes, conquering the rock itself.

Standing here, between the past and the present, one realises that the canal is less a shortcut than a monument to human tenacity. A narrow, deep cut – into the earth and into history.