Connection Across Time: the Suez Canal

The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.  Today Egypt has complete control of the Suez Canal.  Typically three convoys travel the canal in one day, two southbound and one northbound. In 1990, 71 ships reportedly passed through the Suez Canal, the largest amount in 12 years.  In today's society, the Suez Canal is of great importance to global trade, and specifically oil trade.  Without the canal, ships would be force to go out around the Cape of Good Hope severely delaying trade and causing prices to rise.