Name the vital man made shipping canal linking the mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.Write any four characteristics of this canal.

Explanation

Suez canal has shortened the distance between Europe and Asia. This canal had been constructed in 1869 in Egypt between Port Said in the north and Port Suez in the south linking the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.
(i) It gives Europe a new gateway to the Indian Ocean and reduces direct searoute distance between Liverpool and Colombo compared to the Cape of Good Hope route.
(ii) It is a sea-level canal without locks which is about 160 km and il to 15 m deep
(iii) About 100 ships travel daily and each ship takes 10-12 hours to cross this canal.
(iv) The tolls are so heavy that some find it cheaper to go by the longer Cape Route whenever the consequent delay is not important
(v) A railway follows the canal to Suez, and from Ismailia there is a branch line to Cairo.
(VI) A navigable fresh-water canal from the Nile also joins the Suez Canal in Ismailia to supply fresh-water to Port Said and Suez.