What waterway connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea?

The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea through Egypt.

The modern canal opened in 1869 and created a direct sea route between Europe and the Indian Ocean. Before its construction, ships traveling between those regions generally had to sail around the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa, adding thousands of kilometres to many journeys.

The canal runs across the Isthmus of Suez and is a sea-level waterway, meaning it has no lock system like the Panama Canal. It was expanded and widened in stages to accommodate larger ships and allow more two-way traffic. A major expansion channel opened in 2015.

The Suez Canal has enormous strategic and commercial importance. Egypt nationalized it in 1956, prompting the Suez Crisis. Because it is a narrow trade route, blockages can affect shipping schedules, fuel costs and global supply chains.