Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea covering a distance of 160 km. It was constructed in 1969 by a French company. It has a width of 62 km depth of 10 m it accommodates 20,000 ships, 80,000 tonnes in a year and it is used by European countries, Middle East countries for handling exports and imports.
Importance of Suez Canal
- Promotion of trade by exports, imports, passengers for Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
- Promotion of transport and reducing transport costs for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
- Source of government revenue by taxing people and companies like custom duties and at ports like port Said, Alexandria.
- Growth of urban centres because of population increase and industries activities like port Said and port Alexandria.
- Development of the tourism industry like in Sinai peninsular, Persian Gulf, construction work, and because of increased income like Mt. Olive.
- Resource exploitation like mining of oil, iron ore around the Red Sea, Persian Gulf (Sinai Peninsula)
- Employment opportunities like in the transport sector, industrial activities, trade, mining activities leading to increased standards of living.
- Land reclamation by promoting irrigation in the dry area and controlling floods, pests, and diseases attracting people for settlement and agriculture.
- Source of water for domestic, industrial purposes, irrigation, and for dumping wastes and sewage e.g. ports Sayyid.
- Education and research because of landforms, construction work leading to better skills and technology.
- Environmental protection by providing habitats for plant species and animal species through climate modification in the surrounding areas.
- International relations and regional corporation between Europe, Africa and Asia.
- Economic diversification influencing other economic activities like trade, mining reducing the dependency burden
- Development of industries e.g. shipbuilding, oil refining.
