The Canal of Xerxes is the largest technical project that took place in Halkidiki Greece during the ancient era.

According to Herodotus, in 480 B.C., during the Median wars, Xerxes, the king of Persians, wanted to lead his large fleet from Akanthos to Thermi (the name of Thessaloniki then) avoiding the danger of the Athonite circumnavigation and avoid having the same fate Mardonios had a decade ago.

So, he ordered the opening of a canal that extended from today’s Nea Roda to Tripiti and connected the gulf of Ierrisos to Siggitikos bay where the cities Assa, Piloros, Siggos and Sarti, that had been already subjugated to Persians, were located.

Source: ( Municipality of Aristotle )