The Saronic Gulf or Gulf of Aegina entrance
All these years at sea and I still only had one of the big canals under my belt, the Panama. It is the biggest though and quite an experience.
Recently we sailed through the Corinth Canal, connecting the Gulf of Corinth and the Saronic Gulf. Quite a feet of engineering in its day. The idea was conceived as far back as the 7th century BC by the tyrant Periander who instead built an overland passage for ships. Construction of the canal wasn't actually completed until 1893.
At 21m wide it's far too narrow for most modern vessels and even our boat takes up more than half the width. The 52m high walls are spectacular especially set against the contrasting azure colour of the water.
Suez here I come!!
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You'll like the Suez. If you haven't an agent....Course you have... Use Felix, means happy in Arabic..... clear in and out in port Said Don't bother with Suez, robbing blighters. Bunker in Aden if you need to. All the best and enjoy.
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely amazing!!! I agree, the color of the water is beautiful and the cliffs on either side.... Wow! :)
ReplyDeleteThe colours are gorgeous. And those towering walls are awesome - what a feat of 19th century engineering. Whoever steered the boat through must have had to concentrate - wouldn't like to scrape it on those rocks!
ReplyDeleteMost impressive!
ReplyDeleteWonderful. What happens if something's coming the other way - do you blow your horn!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos!
ReplyDelete@Adrian, I'm actually hoping I'll be off before we head through Suez this time. It'll always be there for another day.
ReplyDelete@Jenny, yeah I think it's quite hairy driving through. Was taking the shots from inside the bridge. Funny as the canal control are telling the captain to speed up all the time.
@Scriptor, fortunately there is some control of the traffic which is quite unusual for Greece. There are bridges at each end though which lower into the water. Were getting a bit concerned they weren't going to be lowered in time. Funny story about the horn though. Ours actually stuck on recently and the shut off valve didn't work. Quite a scene with us sailing round tranquil Turkish waters with our horn blowing full blast. A few damp chamois cloths soon put paid to most of the din though.
Fabulous photos Gaz. I think I'd be a tad wary about the odd scrape or too as well. Couldn't take that into Hughson's! Hilarious thinking of you wandering around with the horn blaring. Nothing like doing things discretely.
ReplyDeleteThe vanishing points on these photos are great. I like a lot of your other photos too
ReplyDelete