Corinthian Vacances

The Gulf of Corinth or the Corinthian Gulf (Greek: Κορινθιακός Kόλπος, Korinthiakόs Kόlpos) is a deep inlet of the Ionian Sea separating the Peloponnese from western mainland Greece. It is bounded in the east by the Isthmus of Corinth which includes the shipping-designed Corinth Canal and in the west by the Strait of Rion which widens into the shorter Gulf of Patras (part of the Ionian Sea) and of which the narrowest point is crossed since 2004 by the Rio-Antirio Bridge. The gulf is bordered by the large administrative divisions (prefectures): Aetolia-Acarnania and Phocis in the north, Boeotia in the northeast, Attica in the east, Corinthia in the southeast and south and Achaea in the southwest. The gulf is in tectonic movement comparable to movement in parts of Iceland and Turkey, growing by 10 mm (0.39 in) per year.

In medieval times, the gulf was known as the Gulf of Lepanto (the Italian form of Naupactus).

Shipping routes between the Greek commercial port Pireus (further away from ultimate destinations but larger and better connected to the south than the north-western Greek port of Igoumenitsa) to western Mediterranean and hemisphere ports pass along this gulf. A further crossing in the form of ferry links Aigio and Agios Nikolaos, towards the western part of the gulf.

Length: 130 km (81 mi)

Width: 8.4 to 32 km (5.2 to 19.9 mi)

Max Depth 935 m (3,068 ft)

 

And, if you are lucky, you may see something like this.

 

The gulf was created by the expansion of a tectonic rift due to the westward movement of the Anatolian Plate, and expands by 10 mm (0.39 in) per year.[1] The surrounding faults can produce earthquakes up to magnitude 6.8, though they are relatively uncommon.

 

The Alkyonides Gulf (Greek: Κόλπος Αλκυονίδων - Kolpos Alkyonidon) is a bay that connects with the Gulf of Corinth to the west. The bay is approximately 20 to 25 km long and 20 km wide. It stretches from Aigosthena to Cape Trachilos from east to west and from Cape Trachilos to the peninsula of Perachora from north to south. Three regional units surround the gulf: Corinthia to the south, West Attica to the east and Boeotia to the north. Except for the Megaris Plain to the southeast, mountains surround the gulf. These mountains include the Geraneia to the south, Pateras to the east, Cithaeron to the northeast and Mount Helicon to the north. Beaches include Mikra Strava, Strava, Mavrolimni, Kato Alepochori, Aigosthena, Alyki and Paralia Korinis. The Alkyonides Islands, which are also known as Kala Nisia (literal translation: "Nice Islands"), lie in the western end. These islands include Daskalio, Prasonisi and Zoodochos Pigi. More islands, including Fonias and Makronisos lie to the extreme north. Kouveli, in the Domvrenas Bay, also lies in the north.