The Corinth Canal, separating the Peloponnese from southern mainland Greece, reopened to shipping Wednesday, slightly ahead of schedule, following more than half a year of work to address landslides and rockfalls.
The canal management company said that “most” of the work to conserve and stabilise the banks of the canal has been successfully completed.
The problem affected the southern banks of the canal, on the Peloponnesian side, and followed extensive falls of earth and rocks in 2020 and 2021. The waterway closed in mid-November 2025 after a series of rockfalls and small landslides
A company statement added that “particular importance was given to the significance of the canal for shipping, tourism and boosting the local economy during the summer season.”
It said that work would continue to modernise and upgrade the canal. Initially, officials had expected the canal to reopen in July.
The 6.34-kilometer waterway was excavated between 1881 and 1893 to spare shipping the time-consuming circumnavigation of the Peloponnese. Nevertheless, being only 24.6 meters wide at sea level and with a maximum depth of eight meters, it is no longer navigable by most modern commercial vessels and handles a large volume of tourist craft.
The canal has long been plagued by falls of earth and rocks. It was forced to close for five years at the end of World War II, when retreating German occupation forces dumped railway carriages in the waterway and then blew up sections of the banks, blocking the canal with 60,000 cubic meters of soil.
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ekathimerini.comIndependentCenter4 days agoThe Corinth Canal, which separates the Peloponnese from southern mainland Greece, has reopened to shipping slightly ahead of schedule after over six months of repairs aimed at addressing landslides and rockfalls. The canal management reported that most of the work to stabilize the banks has been completed. The closures were caused by repeated rockfalls and landslides beginning in 2020 and 2021, leading to the closure in November 2025. Officials emphasized the canal’s importance for shipping, tourism, and the local economy, particularly during the summer season. While upgrades will continue, it
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about the reopening of the Corinth Canal, focusing on technical details, historical context, and logistical challenges without taking a clear stance or using biased language.
Official sources cited
- organisation Company Statement
GR