The Suez Canal links the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, shortening the sea route between Europe and Asia.
The canal crosses Egypt and provides a direct waterway between the Atlantic-connected Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean. Ships using it avoid sailing around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, saving thousands of nautical miles on many journeys.
The modern canal opened in 1869 after construction led by the Suez Canal Company. It was nationalised by Egypt in 1956, an event that helped trigger the Suez Crisis. The waterway was later enlarged and deepened through several projects.
The canal is not the same as the Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Suez has no locks because the Mediterranean and Red Sea are close enough in sea level for a sea-level canal.