Key Facts about the Suez Canal
Some key facts about Suez Canal are mentioned below:
- Location: The Suez Canal is situated in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.
- Dimensions: The Suez Canal is approximately 120 miles (193 km) long, 673 feet (205 meters) wide at the surface, and has a depth of 79 feet.
- Traffic: It is one of the busiest waterways globally, with over 18,000 vessels transiting annually, carrying approximately 12% of global trade.
- Navigation: The canal features a system of multiple channels, passing areas, and bypasses, allowing for safe navigation of ships of various sizes.
- Transit Time: The average transit time through the canal is around 12-16 hours, depending on factors such as ship size and traffic.
- Construction: The canal was constructed between 1859 and 1869.
- Control: Despite being located in Egypt, it is an international waterway controlled by international agreements.
- Economic Importance: The canal facilitates global trade, particularly for oil and natural gas transportation.
- Strategic Chokepoint: It serves as both an important commercial route and an operational roadblock for global marine affairs.
- Nationalization: Egypt nationalized the canal in 1956, leading to the Suez Crisis.
Suez Canal – History, Importance, and Impact on Global Trade
The Suez Canal serves as an important economic route between Asia and Europe. It is a major transport route for energy, commodities, consumer goods, and equipment from Asia and the Middle East to Europe. Due to its unique geographical location, the Suez Canal is regarded as the shortest link between the east and west. Since its completion in 1869, it has been one of the world’s busiest maritime lanes. The Suez Canal connects north and south across the Isthmus of Suez in north-eastern Egypt.
In this article, we will look into the meaning, map, history, crisis, economic importance, geopolitical impact, and key facts about the Suez Canal.