A Man Made Canal Makes a Continent an Island

The Suez Canal is a man made water way, between the continent of Africa and Asia, and provides a shorter route for shipping magnets between Europe and the Indian Ocean. The Canal itself has been at the forefront of two wars, and is considered a strategic water way for the advancement of war.

The Suez Canal was officially completed in 1869 after many project starts, from as far back as 246 BC.  It was not until November 17, 1869, that waters from the Mediterranean flowed into the Red Sea.

From as far back as 246, BC, Ptolemy II Philadelphus, reportedly, had an interest in connecting  the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.  Different sections of the canal were worked on from 246 BC and then, abandoned, after the Romans took over, and rebuilt by the Trajan in 98 AD. The majority of the work was completed between 1859 and 1869.

Now, I am not an historian, however, it seems to me, that they have been starting and stopping work on the Suez Canal since before Christianity was established.

The modern day canal is now used by modern ships to shorten the distance between the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean. Fees charged for the crossing of each vessel is a source of income for Egypt.

The canal intersects with three lakes, Lake Manzala, Lake Timsah and the Bitter Lakes. The actual canal is a little over 100 miles and is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

Egypt's Suez Canal Authority (SCA) reports that more than 15,000 ships pass through the canal each year. The canal is under the control of Egypt and charges a six figure fee for passage.

During the most recent civil unrest in Egypt (2011) nobody, especially the U.S. wanted to talk about what could happen if the crisis upset the international shipping industry and the oil tankers which travel through the Suez Canal each day. This was the most hush, hush topic of all, during the civil unrest in Egypt

The canal save oil tankers over 6000 miles and 12 days, which is the distance and time it would take to go around the southern part of Africa.

One of the best ways to see the canal is at Port Said, this is a Egyptian city near the Suez Canal, which links Africa with Asia, through Port Fouad, a suburb on the east bank of the Suez Canal.  Port Said is 220 km, from Cairo and can be easily visited using a side tour once in Cairo.

The unrest in Egypt cannot last.  Egypt is an apex for the world, and the pressures of the world will weigh heavy on the government of Egypt.  Soon, rather than later, Egypt will have to come to grips with the part it plays in the world of today, and to avoid their own economic demise, will not only support, but encourage a peaceful and safe passage for tourist and visitors.

Contact your local travel agent for cruise and tour information, on Egypt. This is an educational journey worth taking.