Previous Year Question

The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. It enables ships travelling between Europe and the Indian Ocean to avoid the long route around the southern tip of Africa through the Cape of Good Hope.

Navigation through the Suez Canal began in 1869. After its opening, the maritime distance between India and Europe was reduced by approximately 7,000 km. This is why the canal forms an extremely important shortcut for international shipping between Europe and Asia.

The canal is approximately 193 km long, with Port Said at its northern end and Suez near its southern end. Its major geographical advantage is that ships can move from the Mediterranean through the Red Sea directly towards the Indian Ocean.