Suez Canal

The shortcut between Europe and Asia that reshaped world trade/Infrastructure

The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, providing the shortest maritime route between Europe and Asia. Opened on November 17, 1869, after 10 years of construction, the canal eliminated the need to navigate around the entire continent of Africa, shortening the London-to-Mumbai sea route by roughly 8,900 kilometers. The current canal is 193.3 kilometers long, 24 meters deep, and 205 meters wide at the surface. About 12 to 15 percent of world trade passes through it. The 2021 blockage by the Ever Given container ship demonstrated just how critical it remains.