The Gulf of Corinth or the Corinthian Gulf 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 route of the Corinth Canal, and in the west by the Strait of Rion, which separates the Gulf of Corinth from the outer Gulf of Patras at Cape Drepano , where the narrowest point is crossed by the Rion-Antirio bridge. The Gulf of Corinth is almost surrounded by the prefectures of Aitoloacarnania, Phokida in the north, Viotia in the northeast, Attica in the east, Corinthia in the southeast and south and Achaea in the southwest. The gulf is one of the most seismic regions in Europe.

In medieval times, the gulf was known as the Gulf of Lepanto. Here the third battle of Lepanto was fought in 1572, destroying the Ottoman fleet. The town of Lepanto is now named Naupactus.

• Length: 130 km
• Width: 8.4 to 32 km

The shipping routes between Athens and to the ports of the rest of the world including the Mediterranean ports pass along this gulf. Ferry routes link Aigio and Agios Nikolaos in the western part of the gulf.

Geology of the gulf

The Gulf is being created by the expansion of a tectonic rift, and still expands by about 30 mm per year. The surrounding faults have important seismic activity.

Gulfs and Bays

• Crisaean Gulf , N
• Strait of Rion W

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
• near Kirra (north), no port
• Aigosthenes , east
• Loutraki, no port
• Corinth (southeast)
• Kiato, southeast
• Xylokastro (south)
• Derveni
• Krathio (southwest), no port
• Diakopto (southwest), beach town
• Aigio (southwest)
• Longos (southwest)
• Akoli Beach (southwest)
• Kato Rodina (west southwest)
• Psathopyrgos (west)

Tributaries

Northern ebbing

• Aoos /Aous River
• Mornos River

southern ebbing

• creek N of Rio
• creek W of Agios Vasileios
• creek E of Arachovitika and Drepano
• Selinus River
• Asopus River (Corinthia)
• Sythas River - Xylokastro

External links

• http://www.corinth-rift-lab.org/index_en.html
• Atlas of the Gulf of Corinth
• Photos of the Corinthian Gulf
• Map of the Corinthian Gulf