Suez Canal: Important Waterways

The Suez Canal is the most important and known waterways that is situated in Egypt. It was opened in the year 1869 and its purpose was to allow transportation of water between Europe and Asia. All this is done without plotting a course around Africa, the Mediterranean and Red Sea. The total length of the canal is 193 kilometers (120 miles). The canal is 24 meters (79 ft) deep at maximum depth. The width of the canal is 205 meters (673 ft). It has 3 lanes with four passing places like great Bitter Lake, Mediterranean, and Gulf of Suez on the Red Sea. The owner of the Suez Canal is Suez Canal Authority (SCA) of Arab Republic of Egypt.

The Suez Canal is considered to be very important oil transit chokepoints from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. The Suez Canal is also responsible for almost 8% of shipping traffic, with more than 50 ships taking a voyage through the canal daily. During the year 1967, the canal was closed because of the Six Day War. The canal has become a source of fighting as it serves as a buffer zone for Israel. The canal was reopened in the year 1975 and since then, it has been widened two times.

From the tourist perspective, one must aim at traveling around the Cape Agulhas. This route is supported for ships that are too large and huge in size. This is also the safest route, as piracy in Somalia is increasing day by day.

Suez Canal: Important Waterways