Gulf of Corinth
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)
Geology
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.
Nature
Cetaceans such as fin whales[2] or dolphins are known to come into the Corinthian gulf occasionally.[3]
Gulfs and bays
- Alkyonides Gulf, east
- Crissaean Gulf (Gulf of Crissa), north
- Bay of Antikyra, north
- Dombraina (Domvrena), north
- Strait of Rio, west
Islands
- Trizonia (the only inhabited), Alkyonides Islands (group of islets), Ambelos (islet), Fonias (islet), Prassoudi (islet)
Bridges
Cities and towns
The cities and towns that lie next to the gulf are:
- Nafpaktos (northwest)
- Sergoula Beach, no port, beach
- Glyfada, no port
- Spilia, no port
- Agios Nikolaos (north)
- Galaxidi (north), small port
- Itea (north), small port
- Kirra (north), no port
- Agios Vasileios, small port
- Porto Germeno (Aigosthena), east, small port, beaches
- Psatha, east, huge beach
- Alepochori, (southeast)
- Loutraki, no port
- Corinth (southeast)
- Kiato, (southeast)
- Xylokastro (south)
- Derveni
- Krathio (southwest), no port
- Diakopto (southwest), beach town
- Aigio (southwest)
- Patras (southeast), major port
- Longos (southwest)
- Selianitika (southwest)
- Akoli Beach (southwest)
- Kato Rodina (west southwest)
- Psathopyrgos (west)
Tributaries
Northern
- Mornos River
Southern
- Volinaios River
- Selemnos River
- Creek E of Arachovitika and Drepano
- Selinounta River
- Vouraikos River
- River east of Diakopto
- Stygas River
- Zacholitikos River
- Asopus River (Corinthia)
- Sythas River - Xylokastro
References
- ^ "Ambraseys, N.N. & Jackson, J.A. 1997. Seismicity and strain in the Gulf of Corinth (Greece) since 1694. Journal of earthquake engineering, 1, 433-474". Informaworld.com. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAx1JhuX_-0
- ^ Keep Talking Greece. 2011. Trapped Whale in Greece (video). Retrieved on November 6. 2014
External links
