Since antiquity, rulers considered cutting through the Isthmus of Corinth with the tyrant Periander being the first to propose the undertaking in the 7th century BC. Upon encountering the expense and complexity of the project, it was abandoned. Roman emperor Nero was compelled to hack away at the solid rock with a pick axe in 67 AD. These days, the 6,343-meter-long feat of engineering that joins the Gulf of Corinth on the Ionian Sea side and the Saronic Gulf on the Aegean is an awe-inspiring sight to behold for both traders, travelers and modern-day thrill-seekers who keep coming with all sorts of ideas to whiz through.
Swim the Canal
Participants in the “Swim the Canal” event raced through the Corinth Canal on Tuesday in the first swimming race since its construction in 1893. The success of the 6-km race was enough to ensure that it would not be the last.
Freestyle it
The spirit of Evel Knievel lives on in the likes of Robbie Maddison, a freestyle motocross champion and daredevil extraordinaire who freestyled over the Corinth Canal.
Bungee Jumping
Adrenaline seekers will not be disappointed by the jumps offered at the bridge of the Corinth Canal from May to September. They can literally touch the canal’s walls while diving into the bluest waters. At a maximum height of 255.9 ft/78 m, the site may not be the highest jump in Europe but it has characteristics that can please even more demanding jumpers, such as a wind tunnel created by the narrow walls that allow for a corkscrew effect while falling.
Fly It
Péter Besenyei made his dream come true on Wednesday when he piloted his plane up the extremely narrow Corinth Canal.
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