Suez Canal- a navigable lockless sea canal in the northeast of Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas. The Suez Canal is the shortest waterway between the ports of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans (8-15 thousand km less than the route around Africa).
The Suez Canal Zone is considered a conditional border between two continents: Asia and Africa. The main ports of entry are Port Said from the Mediterranean Sea and Suez from the Red Sea. The Suez Canal runs along the Isthmus of Suez in its lowest and narrowest part, crossing a series of lakes and the Menzala Lagoon.
The idea of digging a canal across the Isthmus of Suez arose in ancient times. Ancient historians report that the Theban pharaohs of the Middle Kingdom era tried to build a canal connecting the right branch of the Nile with the Red Sea.
The first reliable historical evidence of the connection of the Mediterranean and Red Seas by a canal dates back to the reign of Pharaoh Necho II (late 7th - early 6th century BC).
The expansion and improvement of the canal was carried out by order of the Persian king Darius I, who conquered Egypt, and subsequently by Ptolemy Philadelphus (first half of the 3rd century BC). At the end of the era of the pharaohs in Egypt, the canal fell into a state of decline.
However, after the Arab conquest of Egypt, the canal was restored again in 642, but was filled in in 776 to channel trade through the main areas of the caliphate.
Plans for the restoration of the canal, developed later (in 1569 by order of the vizier of the Ottoman Empire Mehmed Sokollu and by the French during Bonaparte's Egyptian expedition in 1798-1801), were not implemented.
The idea of building the Suez Canal arose again in the second half of the 19th century. The world during this period was experiencing the era of colonial division. North Africa, the part of the continent closest to Europe, attracted the attention of the leading colonial powers - France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain. Egypt was the subject of rivalry between Britain and France.
The nationalization of the canal served as a pretext for the Anglo-Franco-Israeli aggression against Egypt at the end of October 1956. The Suez Canal suffered significant damage, traffic along it was interrupted and resumed only on April 24, 1957, after the completion of the canal cleaning work.
As a result of the Arab-Israeli "Six Day War" of 1967, navigation through the Suez Canal was again interrupted, as the canal zone actually turned into a front line separating Egyptian and Israeli troops, and during the October 1973 war, into an area of active military operations.
The annual damage caused by inaction to the Suez Canal was estimated at 4-5 billion dollars.
In 1974, after the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Suez Canal zone, Egypt began clearing, restoring and reconstructing the canal. On June 5, 1975, the Suez Canal was reopened to navigation.
In 1981, the first stage of the canal reconstruction project was completed, which made it possible to carry through it tankers with a deadweight of up to 150 thousand tons (on completion of the second stage - up to 250 thousand tons) and cargo ships with a deadweight of up to 370 thousand tons.
In 2005, a new reconstruction of the Suez Canal began. The reconstruction plan includes deepening the channel, which will allow more than 90% of the existing international merchant fleet to pass through the canal. Since 2010, supertankers with a displacement of up to 360 thousand tons will be able to navigate the canal. Today, the length of the canal itself is 162.25 km, with sea approaches from Port Said to Port Taufiq - 190.25 km. Width at a depth of 11 meters is 200-210 m. Depth along the fairway is 22.5 m.
A modern symbol of the United States, the Statue of Liberty was originally planned to be installed in Port Said under the name "Light of Asia" ( The Light Of Asia), but the then government of the country decided that transporting the structure from France and installing it was too expensive for the state.
Currently, about 10% of all global maritime transport occurs through the Suez Canal. On average, 48 ships pass through the Suez Canal per day, and the average transit time through the canal is about 14 hours.
According to existing rules, ships from all countries that are not at war with Egypt can pass through Suez. Operating rules prohibit the appearance of only ships with nuclear power plants.
Today, the Suez Canal is the main budget-generating project in Egypt. According to some experts, the canal provides the country with more funds than oil production, and much more than the rapidly developing tourism infrastructure allows today.
The operation of the canal is one of the main sources of foreign exchange earnings for the Egyptian treasury. According to some experts, the canal provides the country with more funds than oil production, and much more than the rapidly developing tourism infrastructure.
The monthly volume of fees for passage through the canal is $372 million.
In the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the Suez Canal brought Egypt more than $5 billion, which was a record figure in the history of the canal.
In the 2008-2009 fiscal year, shipping traffic on the Suez Canal fell by 8.2%, and Egypt's revenue from operating the canal fell by 7.2%. Experts explain this by the consequences of the global financial crisis, as well as by the actions of pirates off the coast of Somalia.
Suez Canal- a navigable lockless sea canal in the northeast of Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas. The Suez Canal is the shortest waterway between the ports of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans (8-15 thousand km less than the route around Africa).
The Suez Canal Zone is considered a conditional border between two continents: Asia and Africa. The main ports of entry are Port Said from the Mediterranean Sea and Suez from the Red Sea. The Suez Canal runs along the Isthmus of Suez in its lowest and narrowest part, crossing a series of lakes and the Menzala Lagoon.
The idea of digging a canal across the Isthmus of Suez arose in ancient times. Ancient historians report that the Theban pharaohs of the Middle Kingdom era tried to build a canal connecting the right branch of the Nile with the Red Sea.
The first reliable historical evidence of the connection of the Mediterranean and Red Seas by a canal dates back to the reign of Pharaoh Necho II (late 7th - early 6th century BC).
The expansion and improvement of the canal was carried out by order of the Persian king Darius I, who conquered Egypt, and subsequently by Ptolemy Philadelphus (first half of the 3rd century BC). At the end of the era of the pharaohs in Egypt, the canal fell into a state of decline.
However, after the Arab conquest of Egypt, the canal was restored again in 642, but was filled in in 776 to channel trade through the main areas of the caliphate.
Plans for the restoration of the canal, developed later (in 1569 by order of the vizier of the Ottoman Empire Mehmed Sokollu and by the French during Bonaparte's Egyptian expedition in 1798-1801), were not implemented.
The idea of building the Suez Canal arose again in the second half of the 19th century. The world during this period was experiencing the era of colonial division. North Africa, the part of the continent closest to Europe, attracted the attention of the leading colonial powers - France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain. Egypt was the subject of rivalry between Britain and France.
The nationalization of the canal served as a pretext for the Anglo-Franco-Israeli aggression against Egypt at the end of October 1956. The Suez Canal suffered significant damage, traffic along it was interrupted and resumed only on April 24, 1957, after the completion of the canal cleaning work.
As a result of the Arab-Israeli "Six Day War" of 1967, navigation through the Suez Canal was again interrupted, as the canal zone actually turned into a front line separating Egyptian and Israeli troops, and during the October 1973 war, into an area of active military operations.
The annual damage caused by inaction to the Suez Canal was estimated at 4-5 billion dollars.
In 1974, after the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Suez Canal zone, Egypt began clearing, restoring and reconstructing the canal. On June 5, 1975, the Suez Canal was reopened to navigation.
In 1981, the first stage of the canal reconstruction project was completed, which made it possible to carry through it tankers with a deadweight of up to 150 thousand tons (on completion of the second stage - up to 250 thousand tons) and cargo ships with a deadweight of up to 370 thousand tons.
In 2005, a new reconstruction of the Suez Canal began. The reconstruction plan includes deepening the channel, which will allow more than 90% of the existing international merchant fleet to pass through the canal. Since 2010, supertankers with a displacement of up to 360 thousand tons will be able to navigate the canal. Today, the length of the canal itself is 162.25 km, with sea approaches from Port Said to Port Taufiq - 190.25 km. Width at a depth of 11 meters is 200-210 m. Depth along the fairway is 22.5 m.
A modern symbol of the United States, the Statue of Liberty was originally planned to be installed in Port Said under the name “The Light Of Asia,” but the then government of the country decided that transporting the structure from France and installing it was too expensive for the state.
Currently, about 10% of all global maritime transport occurs through the Suez Canal. On average, 48 ships pass through the Suez Canal per day, and the average transit time through the canal is about 14 hours.
According to existing rules, ships from all countries that are not at war with Egypt can pass through Suez. Operating rules prohibit the appearance of only ships with nuclear power plants.
Today, the Suez Canal is the main budget-generating project in Egypt. According to some experts, the canal provides the country with more funds than oil production, and much more than the rapidly developing tourism infrastructure allows today.
The operation of the canal is one of the main sources of foreign exchange earnings for the Egyptian treasury. According to some experts, the canal provides the country with more funds than oil production, and much more than the rapidly developing tourism infrastructure.
The monthly volume of fees for passage through the canal is $372 million.
In the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the Suez Canal brought Egypt more than $5 billion, which was a record figure in the history of the canal.
In the 2008-2009 fiscal year, shipping traffic on the Suez Canal fell by 8.2%, and Egypt's revenue from operating the canal fell by 7.2%. Experts explain this by the consequences of the global financial crisis, as well as by the actions of pirates off the coast of Somalia.
The Suez Canal will connect the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. Thus, the waterway from the Mediterranean to the waters of the Indian Ocean is significantly reduced. There is no need to go around Africa, which is a huge plus for maritime shipping. The canal is considered the geographical boundary between Asia and Africa.
This most important sea route was put into operation on November 17, 1869. It connected 2 seaports - Port Said on the Mediterranean Sea and the port of Suez - north of the Gulf of Suez on the Red Sea. To the east of the canal are the lands of the Sinai Peninsula, and the western bank belongs to Africa. This waterway is considered the property of Egypt and brings the state treasury at least $5 billion annually, passing through about 18 thousand ships.
At the beginning of its operation, the length of the waterway was 164 km with a depth of 12 meters. Today, after several expansions, the length has increased to 193 km with a depth of 24 meters. The length of the northern access is 22 km, the canal itself is 163 km long and the length of the southern access is 9 km. The width of the water surface varies from 120 to 150 meters. Towards the bottom the width narrows and reaches 45-60 meters.
The waterway connecting the Red and Mediterranean Seas does not have locks. This is very convenient, since ships can get from one salty body of water to another without any obstacles.
There are lakes on the canal. These are the Great Bitter Lake and the Little Bitter Lake. The large one is located to the north, and its water surface area is 250 square meters. km. The area of Small Gorky Lake is 30 square meters. km. As for currents, during the winter months the water from the bitter lakes flows north, and in the winter it receives water from the Mediterranean Sea. South of the lakes, the current varies with the tides.
History of the Suez Canal
Ancient times
The ancient Egyptians set themselves the task of connecting the Nile River with the Gulf of Suez. They needed this in order to establish a trade route with Punt, an ancient state located on the Horn of Africa peninsula. The goods were very valuable - ebony, various paints, ivory, gold, animal skins, myrrh (gum resin).
It is assumed that back in the 19th century BC. e. such a canal was built, and the Nile was connected to the Red Sea. This waterway was tirelessly maintained by the pharaohs. But centuries passed, people and states changed. The water crossing gradually lost its relevance and fell into disrepair, and then the need for its restoration arose again.
The ancient Greek historian Herodotus reports that in the 7th century BC. e. The Egyptians again began to dig a canal, but did not finish it. Only 100 years later, the Persian king Darius I completed this waterway. In the 3rd century BC. e. it passed into the possession of Ptolemy Philadelphus, who became king of Ancient Egypt after the death of Alexander the Great. Judging by the mentions of ancient historians, the water stream was so wide that 2 ships diverged freely on it. In the 2nd century AD, the Roman Emperor Troyan deepened the canal and expanded it. But then another era came, and the waterway from Africa to the Red Sea was abandoned.
Construction of the canal in the 19th century
Centuries flashed by, and Napoleon Bonaparte stood at the head of France. In 1798, he ordered a thorough study of the construction of the Suez Canal, which could connect the Mediterranean with the Red Sea. A commission was organized, but its conclusion disappointed the emperor. Experts have concluded that the water level of the Red Sea is 9 meters higher than the similar level of the Mediterranean Sea. That is, it was necessary to build a whole cascade of gateways. The emperor was also told the amount of all the work - 45 million francs.
But it was not the financial issue that prevented Napoleon from carrying out construction. Circumstances intervened. The emperor was overthrown and sent into exile on the island of St. Helena, and talk about the grandiose project died out.
40 years have passed and other experts have already proven that the French commission was wrong. There is no water drop. After this, the idea was born to build a canal. It began to be actively promoted Ferdinand de Lesseps- French diplomat with extensive connections and an excellent reputation. He interested the ruler of Egypt, Muhammad Said Pasha, with his idea. This man once studied in Paris and received an excellent education.
Said Pasha granted Lesseps a concession for construction work, which began in 1859. The cost of the work was estimated at 200 million francs. For this amount, shares were issued and sold for future dividends. The governments of Egypt and France acted as guarantors, so this financial project was considered quite reliable.
The construction work was extremely difficult. People worked in the desert under the scorching rays of the sun. The main problem was the supply of workers not with construction materials, but with water. Fortunately, the bed of an old canal that was used in ancient times was discovered. It was through it that fresh water was released from the Nile.
However, technical and everyday issues that were not foreseen at the beginning very quickly “ate up” the amount initially included in the estimate. We had to issue additional shares. In total, the cost of all costs amounted to almost 580 million francs. Lesseps promised to build the waterway in 6 years, but the work dragged on for almost 11 years.
First, we made the northern part of the water area and went to the bitter lakes that had long since dried up. They were depressions with a depth of 8-10 meters below sea level. Then it was the turn of the southern part, which was connected to the Gulf of Suez.
The grand opening of the new waterway, which shortened the route from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean by 8 thousand km, took place on November 17, 1869. Representatives of almost all European powers came to the celebration. The celebrations continued for a week and cost 30 million francs.
Further history of the Suez Canal
In 1888, the maritime powers signed the International Convention. It guaranteed free passage through the canal for ships of all states. However, during the World Wars, control over this strategically important area was exercised by Great Britain and its allies. In 1956, Egyptian President Nasser announced the nationalization of the channel.
This caused a great stir in the world, since the Suez Canal carried 20% of all world traffic and 80% of US oil traffic. Economic interests gave rise to a war in which Egypt was defeated, and the strategically important waterway came under the jurisdiction of the UN.
Another conflict arose in 1973, when the Arab-Israeli war began. There was active military action in the canal area, and its work was paralyzed. The waterway became operational only in June 1975. Currently, it is under the jurisdiction of Egypt and brings good money to the state treasury.
Ship on the canal
The waterway's throughput capacity is 76 vessels per day. The traffic is one-way. One ship takes from 12 to 16 hours. First there are ships from Suez, then ships from Port Said. Oncoming ships disperse in the Great Bitter Lake. The movement is organized strictly according to schedule.
Huge loaded tankers cannot navigate the shallow waterway due to their deep draft. Therefore, they unload, bypass the channel and load again at the other end. This creates certain inconveniences. Such cargo is transported by ships owned by Egypt.
In 1981, an underwater road tunnel was put into operation near Suez. It passes directly under the bottom of the Suez Canal and connects the Sinai Peninsula with Africa. This architectural creation is considered one of the attractions of Egypt. In 2001, railway and road bridges were opened in the northern part of the waterway. The height of the road bridge reaches 70 meters. The railway bridge is a drawbridge. Thus, these structures do not impede the passage of ships of any size.
This man-made creation is of great importance for the global economy. It saves a lot of time, and, therefore, reduces the cost of transportation. The benefit is obvious, all that remains is to hope for a stable political situation in this troubled region.
In Egypt, on August 6, there is a holiday that has not been seen there for 146 years - the new Suez Canal was opened here. For this purpose, they even corrected an omission made in 1869 - then the opera “Aida” could not be shown at the opening of Channel One, because Verdi did not have time to finish it. But now it is presented right on the banks of the canal with live broadcast on the world's leading TV channels. In Washington, London, New York, Beijing and Tokyo, the ceremony can be seen on huge screens in the central squares of the city.
Holiday for 30 million
The celebration takes place in the city of Ismailia, located in the middle of the Suez Canal. Costs are estimated at approximately $30 million.
The opening of the new canal branch began with fireworks early in the morning on August 6. Then - the air show. At this time, nine swimmers from the country's Paralympic team stretched a five-kilometer Egyptian flag along the canal. In general, Cairo did its best. Even at the entrance to the country, border guards put a stamp in passports with the inscription “New Suez Canal”. Also, from August 6, souvenir gold coins - Egyptian pounds with the inscription "New Suez Canal - Egypt's gift to the world" went on sale.
Egyptian President Ahmed Fatah al-Sisi arrived for the celebration on the five-deck yacht El-Mahrousa. In 1869, it was this ship with the Khedive (vice-sultan, head of Egypt at the time of dependence on Turkey) Ismail on board that was the first to pass through the newly opened Suez Canal.
The ceremony brought together heads of state and government from many countries around the world. Russia is represented by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. He not only attended the show, but will also hold a number of meetings, for example, with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. The Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Viktor Chirkov, also arrived in Egypt.
The Russian Prime Minister has already named new channel"one of the symbols of the modern world." He also noted that Russian companies are ready to participate in a number of economic projects in Egypt, and joint work to create an industrial zone in the Suez Canal area, which can accommodate Russian automakers, manufacturers of building materials, energy, pharmacists and others is only the first step.
Unprecedented security measures have been introduced throughout Egypt during the celebrations. About 10 thousand police plus army units are involved, and this is only in the three provinces directly adjacent to the canal. Everything is more or less significant objects, from government buildings to businesses, are surrounded by 24-hour security. The authorities' concern is understandable - despite all efforts to restore order in the country, disturbed by the "Arab revolution", some instability remains. In addition, real fighting is taking place in the Sinai Peninsula between the army and militants from radical groups.
Infographics: Volkov Konstantin
Egyptian authorities found an ingenious way to remind those gathered that they do not intend to tolerate disorder and terrorism in the Sinai. In Ismailia, a sandstone stele from the 26th dynasty (663-525 BC) was put on public display. The stele depicts the campaign of Pharaoh Apres just to Sinai. The artifact was found by the military during the construction of additional fortifications along Suez during the 2011 revolution.
Breadwinner channel
Egypt has a reason to be proud - the new canal was dug in just a year. True, its length is 71.9 kilometers, in contrast to the route opened in 1869 with a length of 193.3 kilometers. This length of the new line is explained by the fact that it departs from the previous channel only in the most problematic places, allowing ships on opposite courses to disperse freely. It is expected that by 2023, when the new line is fully operational, the entire canal complex will be able to handle 97 ships per day versus the current 49. Thus, the problem of the passage of huge modern tankers will also be solved. Today, about 8 percent of all seaborne cargo in the world passes through Suez, and its expansion could significantly increase the proportion of ships choosing this route, rather than rounding Africa past the Cape of Good Hope.
For Cairo, the new canal is a source of pride and hope for replenishment of the treasury. Pride because, despite the crisis in the Egyptian economy, such a large-scale project was still completed. The construction, along with the surrounding infrastructure and roads running under the canal, is estimated to cost $8.6 billion, with half of that amount spent on tunnels. To finance the work, investment certificates were issued, which promised to pay dividends on a monthly basis. It was expected that their sale would take a long time, but, to the surprise of the authorities, the population bought up the securities within a week. This excitement was all the more unexpected given that about 40 percent of the country's population lives on two dollars a day.
The currently functioning Suez Canal brings an average of $4.7 billion a year to the Egyptian treasury in the form of fees for the passage of vessels - almost more than any other sector of the state's economy. Authorities hope that with increased ship traffic, revenue from operating the canal will increase to $13.2 billion by 2023.
Is there enough cargo?
However, will Cairo be able to replenish its treasury with the help of a new channel? Many experts believe that Egyptians' expectations are too high. So, according to William Jackson, senior economist international company Macroeconomics research firm Capitaleconomics For Egypt to achieve its goals, global trade volumes must grow by 9 percent a year (currently at best growth is 6 percent).
In addition, the volume of shipping through Suez may also be negatively affected by the “New Silk Road” route actively promoted by China. railway directly through the expanses of Eurasia to Western Europe.
The security situation also raises questions, especially in the Sinai region. Despite the actions of the Egyptian army, terrorist organizations still continue their activities there.
However, Cairo hopes to increase revenue by creating an industrial and political hub along the new canal. Six new ports, production facilities and warehouses should appear there. The hub will receive the status of a special economic zone (SEZ), with special conditions in terms of sales tax and the export of products produced in it outside Egypt. In addition, the newly created SEZ will have no ownership restrictions for foreign companies. As Egyptian Minister of Planning Ashraf el-Arabi said, it is planned to attract about $60 billion of investment in the coming years for the creation of the SEZ.
On November 17, 1869, a short route was opened for ships traveling from Europe to the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia and other regions of the planet, which previously could only be reached by circumnavigating Africa. Fifteen years of construction proceeded dramatically, hampered by political contradictions, labor shortages, epidemic cholera outbreaks and many other problems. Now ships only need to travel 101 kilometers and they will end up in the Red Sea. 145 years after the opening of the Suez Canal, it is time to highlight some Interesting Facts related to its history.
1. The channel was conceived back in Ancient Egypt
The Egyptian pharaoh Senusret III initiated the construction of the shortest route connecting the two seas (Mediterranean and Red). Then, according to historians, an attempt was made to implement the project by Pharaoh Necho II and the Persian conqueror Darius, but both then abandoned further work. Some information suggests that in the 3rd century BC, during the reign of the Ptolemaic dynasty, this “Channel of the Pharaohs” was finally completed, and Cleopatra herself traveled along it. Be that as it may, it had a winding channel and through the desert connected the Nile River with the Red Sea, along which ships could reach the Mediterranean basin.
2. Napoleon Bonaparte considered the canal construction project
After the conquest of Egypt in 1798, French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte sent a team of surveyors to study the possibility of digging a canal across the Isthmus of Suez. The explorers incorrectly concluded that the level of the Red Sea was 30 feet higher than the Mediterranean. They erroneously argued that any attempt to create a canal would lead to catastrophic flooding in the Nile Delta. As a result, Napoleon abandoned the project, and construction plans were not considered until 1847, when a group of researchers finally confirmed that the difference in levels between the Mediterranean and Red Seas was not so great.
3. The British government objected
Planning for the Suez Canal officially began in 1854, when the French diplomat Lesseps, with the support of Emperor Napoleon III, negotiated with the Egyptian viceroy to create the Suez Canal Company. Britain saw in this construction an encroachment on its naval power and launched a powerful propaganda campaign against the plan. France was accused of "blatant robbery" ordinary people"(meaning shareholders), British Prime Minister Lord Palmerston made heated speeches against Lesseps, who even challenged the English railway engineer Robert Stevenson to a duel, who risked doubting his correctness.
All this did not prevent the British government from buying 44% of the company's shares for next to nothing in 1875, taking advantage of Egypt's financial difficulties.
4. The canal was built manually and using the most modern machines
The excavation of such a large mass of soil (75 million cubic meters of sand) required enormous labor costs, and at first the canal was dug by forcedly driven poor Egyptian peasants. At the end of 1861, tens of thousands of workers were using only picks and shovels, and progress was slow. Particularly serious difficulties arose after the Egyptian ruler Ismail Pasha banned the use of forced labor in 1863. Faced with a severe labor shortage, Lesseps and the Suez Canal Company changed strategy and began using several hundred steam engines and dredgers. New technology increased productivity in the last two years of construction. About three-quarters of the canal has been dug by heavy equipment.
5. The Statue of Liberty was originally intended for the canal.
In 1869, construction was nearing completion. The French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi tried to persuade Lesseps and the Egyptian government to allow him to install his sculpture "Egypt Bringing the Light of Asia" on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea at the entrance to the canal. He proposed erecting a huge (90 feet tall) statue of a woman dressed in the traditional clothes of Egyptian peasant women with a torch in her hand, which also served as a beacon. The project remained unrealized. In 1886 Bartholdi created new version for New York Harbor, known throughout the world as the Statue of Liberty.
6. There is a connection between the Suez and Panama Canals
It was Lesseps who first proposed digging a shipping route through the Isthmus of Panama in Central America. Work began in 1881, but despite the assurances of the French diplomat that the new canal would be easier to build than the Suez, everything turned out to be exactly the opposite. Thousands of people died during construction in the sweltering jungle, the company spent $260 million (insane money at the time), and failed to complete the project in 1889. Only after a quarter of a century Panama Canal was finally built.
7. The channel played an important role in the Cold War
In 1956, the Suez Crisis sparked a short war between Egypt and the combined armed forces of England, France and Israel. The conflict had its origins (British occupation of the coastal zone, which continued even after Egypt gained independence in 1922). The controversy escalated in July 1956, when Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal. Already in October, the combined forces of Great Britain, Israel and France began an offensive against Egypt. The aggressors almost managed to achieve a military victory; they were stopped only by an ultimatum Soviet Union. British Prime Minister Anthony Eden resigned and the Suez Canal remained under Egyptian control.
8. An entire fleet of ships stood in the canal for more than eight years
In June 1967, after the Six Day War, the Suez Canal was closed by the Egyptian government due to the large number of mines and sunken ships. At this moment, 15 ships from different countries were moored in the middle of the canal near the Great Bitter Lake. They remained there for eight years, earning the nickname "Yellow Fleet" after the color of the desert sands that covered them. In 1975, ships were finally allowed to leave the canal. Only two ships were able to escape on their own; the rest had to be towed.
9. Suez will be reconstructed
Approximately 50 ships pass through the Suez Canal every day. The tolls provide Egypt with $5 billion in annual revenue, but the transport burden is growing. Both the width and depth have become insufficient to accommodate all types of vessels and provide two-way traffic for modern tankers. In August 2014, Egypt announced an ambitious plan to deepen the canal and create a new 22-mile additional lane. Preliminary design has already begun. The cost of the project is estimated at $8.5 billion. Egyptian authorities say that after reconstruction in 2023, revenue from the canal will double.
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