KORINTHOS

English Corinth noms (department), straddling the junction of southern continental Greece and the Peloponnese. With an area of 884 sq mi (2,289 sq km), it is indented by the Saronic Gulf (southeast) and the Gulf of Corinth (northwest), which are linked via a navigable canal through the Isthmus of Corinth. Ephyra (Watchtower), is the ancient name of the plateau of Corinth, which has been inhabited since the Neolithic Period; the plateau narrows toward Xilocastron and terminates in a forest of fir. Mount Killini in the central western part of the department is the highest peak, at 7,795 ft (2,376 m), in the Peloponnese peninsula. Several navigable rivers with deep, straight valleys empty northward into the Gulf of Corinth. Some wheat, barley, citrus fruits, olives, and grapes are cultivated along the coasts. Dairy farming, vegetable growing, and raising of sheep and goats also number among the agricultural activities of the department. Forestry and food processing are the main industries. Recreational hunting (duck shooting) is done at the Stymphalian lake in the southwest. The main town is Corinth, the administrative centre of the noms, located at the northeastern corner of the Peloponnese near the Isthmus. Acrocorinth, the ancient acropolis of Corinth, has buildings of the Christian, Turkish, and Venetian periods. To Corinth's south, the terraced hills produce small, dark currants and seedless sultanas for raisins. Loutraki is a seaside resort on the shores of the Gulf of Corinth. Nemea, home of the ancient Nemean Games, is celebrated for its red wine. The main highway runs between Athens (east) and Patrai (west) along the north shore of the Gulf of Corinth. Pop. (1981) 123,042.