The Suez Canal

Brief History
The Suez canal is a large artificial canal in Egypt 106km long and 300 metres wide at its narrowest point.
It links the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. Before it was built, goods were often offloaded and carried over land between the two seas.

The canal was largely funded by French companies. It opened in 1869 and had an immediate impact on world trade.

Why was the Suez Canal important? Trade route connecting middle east, asia, europe.

Suez canal

Alternative route involved sailing around southern tip of Africa a long and trecherous journey.
Important artery for EMPIRE (British access to India) but also OIL supplies