Suez Canal

The Suez Canal (Arabic: قناة السويس‎‎ Qanāt al-Suways) is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez. After 10 years of construction, it was officially opened on November 17, 1869. The canal allows ships to travel between Europe and South Asia without navigating around Africa, thereby reducing the sea voyage distance by about 7,000 kilometres (4,300 mi). 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 km (120.11 mi), including its northern and southern access channels. In 2012, 17,225 vessels traversed the canal (47 per day).^[1]

The canal is a single-lane waterway with passing locations in the Ballah Bypass and the Great Bitter Lake.^[2] It contains no locks system, with seawater flowing freely through it. In general, the canal north of the Bitter Lakes flows north in winter and south in summer. South of the lakes, the current changes with the tide at Suez.^[3]

The canal is owned and maintained by the Suez Canal Authority^[4] (SCA) of Egypt. Under the Convention of Constantinople, it may be used "in time of war as in time of peace, by every vessel of commerce or of war, without distinction of flag."^[5]

Source: Wikipedia

SuezCanal-EO

The southern terminus of the Suez Canal at Suez on the Gulf of Suez (Red Sea)

Northern outlet of the Suez Canal at Port Said on the Mediterranean Sea

USS America (CV-66), an American aircraft carrier in the Suez Canal

Ships moored at El Ballah during transit

Suez Canal, Egypt. early 1900s. Goodyear Archival Collection. Brooklyn Museum

Picture Source: Collected from Internet