The Isthmus of Corinth served as a narrow land bridge connecting Central Greece to the Peloponnese, and the Corinth Canal, which traverses this landmass, linked the Saronic and Corinthian gulfs. This canal, with a length of approximately six kilometres, was constructed between 1880 and 1893 at the narrowest point of the isthmus.
Due to its strategic significance, an ancient protective barrier, known as the Hexamilion wall, was erected in the late 5th century BCE. This wall ran parallel to the modern canal, originating from the Peloponnesian side, and was maintained throughout the Byzantine era to safeguard the Peloponnese against potential invasions from Central Greece. Today, more than 12,000 vessels traverse the canal annually.
