Greece has always been an ocean-going people. Therefore, since the time of the tyrant Periander , founder of ancient Corinth, at the north eastern corner of the Peloponessus, the Greek had thought of cutting a canal between the Gulf of Corinth and the Saronic Gulf, or more widely stated, between the Ionian and the Aegean Seas. The enormity of the task defeated Periander, who opted instead to build a paved slipway across this narrow connection between the Peloponessus and the rest of mainland Greece. Small ships were dragged across on rollers. This method persisted till the 13th century, when Nero began the real digging in the year 67 AD. It was only partially dug, due to the invasions of the Gauls. It was finally completed in 1883-93, by a French engineering company.
Today we traveled through this interesting canal which is over 4 miles long, 65 feet wide and 26 feet deep; the crossing took us approximately one hour. Our ship fit snuggly into the canal and we enjoyed the vegetation and geology along the way. At different points there are car and train crossings where a good number of onlookers observed us as we passed - partially pulled/controlled by a tugboat.
