Which two seas are connected by the Suez Canal?

The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.

The canal crosses Egypt’s Isthmus of Suez and provides the shortest maritime route between Europe and the Indian Ocean. Ships using it avoid sailing around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, saving thousands of kilometres on many journeys.

The modern canal officially opened in 1869 after about a decade of construction. Unlike the Panama Canal, it has no system of locks because the Mediterranean and Red Sea are close enough in level for a sea-level waterway.

The canal has been expanded and widened several times. Egypt nationalized it in 1956, triggering the Suez Crisis. A major blockage occurred in 2021 when the container ship Ever Given grounded in the canal.