Previous Year Question
In the Suez canal region, the correct order of lakes lying from North to South direction is
Lake Timsah – Little Bitter Lake – Great Bitter Lake – Lake Manzala
Great Bitter Lake – Little Bitter Lake – Lake Timsah – Lake Manzala
Lake Manzala – Great Bitter Lake – Little Bitter Lake – Lake Timsah
Lake Manzala – Lake Timsah – Great Bitter Lake – Little Bitter Lake
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
The Suez Canal in Egypt connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. Moving from north to south along its route, the correct sequence of the lakes is Lake Manzala → Lake Timsah → Great Bitter Lake → Little Bitter Lake.
Lake Manzala lies near Port Said at the northern end and is the northernmost lake associated with the canal route. To its south lies Lake Timsah, on whose shore the city of Ismailia developed.
Further south, the canal passes through the Great Bitter Lake. It forms a broad section of the canal route and has historically also served as a passing and waiting area for vessels. Immediately south of the Great Bitter Lake lies the Little Bitter Lake, after which the canal proceeds towards the Port of Suez and the Red Sea.
The Suez Canal is a sea-level canal and, unlike the Panama Canal, does not use locks. Its route makes use of these natural depressions and lakes.