Suez Canal

Greetings from the Suez Canal,

The Suez Canal ( In Arabic: Qanat as-Suways ), is an artificial sea-level waterway running north to south across the Isthmus of Suez in Egypt to connect the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. The canal separates the African continent from Asia, and it provides the shortest maritime route between Europe and the lands lying around the Indian and western Pacific oceans. It is one of the world's most heavily used shipping lanes.

The Suez Canal is one of the most important waterways in the world.

The excavation took some 10 years using forced labor of Egyptian workers during a certain period. Some sources estimate that over 30,000 people were working on the canal at any given period, that altogether more than 1.5 million people from various countries were employed and that thousands of laborers died on the project.

The excavation took some 10 years using forced labor of Egyptian workers during a certain period. Some sources estimate that over 30,000 people were working on the canal at any given period, that altogether more than 1.5 million people from various countries were employed and that thousands of laborers died on the project.

The canal opened to shipping on 17 November, 1869. Although numerous technical, political, and financial problems had been overcome, the final cost was more than double the original estimate.


The banks of the Canal are protected against the wash and waves, generated by the transit of ships, by revetments of hard stones and steel piles corresponding to the nature of soil in every area. On both sides of the Canal, there are mooring bollards every 125 m for the mooring of vessel in case of emergency, and kilometric sign posts helping locate the position of ships in the waterway. The navigable channel is bordered by light and reflecting buoys as navigational aids to night traffic

On one side of the canal the landscape is lush with greenery. Palm trees and vegetation line the waterways for as far as the eyes can see.

While the canal side opposite is barren desert terrain. There are no trees anywhere in sight.

The canal allows passage of ships up to 62 feet draft or 210,000 deadweight tons and up to a maximum height of 68 m above water level and a maximum beam of 254 ft 3 in (under certain conditions). Most of the canal is limited to a single lane of traffic, but 4 bypasses are located along the Canal, and this allows the transit of ships in both directions.

All along the passage checkpoint stops are quite frequent. The canal is heavy guarded by Egyptian authorties.

Life along the Canal is as diverse as the ships passing through. It's cargo after cargo ship..

Then... out of the blue you spot normal everyday fishermen docked on the sides of the canal hanging out fishing.

I was amazed at the state of some of the homes along the Canal.

And here are a few shots of the various floating bridges that are along the sides. Not sure when they use them... daily or for emergencies, but you can see these all long the way.

By 1955 approximately two-thirds of Europe's oil passed through the canal. About 7.5% of world sea trade is carried via the canal today. In 2008, a total of 21,415 vessels passed through the canal and the receipts from the canal totaled $5.381 billion. Average cost per-ship is roughly $250,000.00. Tolls paid by the vessels represent an important source of income for the Egyptian government.

And here is our Harry... gazing into the sun as we continue our voyage along the Suez Canal....

Actually, he is tallying up the ships he sees and multiplying them by the $250 K toll fee. He does that everywhere we go.

Baseball game.... multiplies the crowd by what we paid to see how much money is being made. Ship cruise... multiples the couples by what we paid... It is really annoying when he starts dividing the costs per worker and tries to determine what the net amount made. But that's our Harry... all about the bottom line.

Blessings,

Kristie