Suez Canal



"The Suez Canal is where the ships can cross from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea without having to sail throughout the southern Atlantic and Indian oceans as well. I can't believe it's being under attack by now."

--Su Ji-Hoon, Suez

The Suez Canal (Arabic: قناة السويس‎ Qanāt as-Suwēs) is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez. Constructed by the Suez Canal Company between 1859 and 1869, it was officially opened on November 17, 1869. The canal offers watercraft a shorter journey between the North Atlantic and northern Indian Oceans via the Mediterranean and Red seas by avoiding the South Atlantic and southern Indian oceans, in turn reducing the journey by approximately 7,000 kilometers (4,300 miles). It extends from the northern terminus of Port Said to the southern terminus of Port Tewfik at the city of Suez. Its length is 193.30 kilometers (120.11 miles), including its northern and southern access channels. In 2012, 17,225 vessels traversed the canal (47 per day).