Suez Canal: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Sep. 18, 2026

Photos and Videos

Cargo ships travel along the wide Suez Canal in Egypt, bordered by sandy desert on one side and greenery on the other.

Vertical map of the Suez Canal in Egypt, showing its route from Port Said on the Mediterranean Sea in the north to Suez on the Gulf of Suez in the south. The map highlights the existing canal, the new canal channel as of August 2015, major lakes such as Lake Timsah and the Great Bitter Lake, and nearby cities and infrastructure including railroads and drainage canals, with the Sinai Peninsula to the east. An inset locates the canal within Egypt.

High angle view of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier sailing through the narrow Suez Canal, surrounded by desert landscape on both sides.

Suez Canal Authority

World map comparing two shipping routes from Dalian, China, to Rotterdam, Netherlands: the Suez Canal route, shown in blue, passing through the Strait of Malacca, Red Sea, and Mediterranean Sea, covering about 11,000 nautical miles and taking 48 days; and the alternate route, shown in red, traveling around the Cape of Good Hope at Africa's southern tip, covering about 14,500 nautical miles and taking 57 days.

United Nations soldiers in helmets march in formation along a street in Port Said, carrying rifles and gear during the Suez Crisis, 1956.

The Ever Given blocking the Suez Canal

View of the Suez Canal waterfront between Port Said and Port Fuad, Egypt, with boats docked along the shore and mid-rise buildings lining the water.

Vertical map showing the Suez Canal in Egypt, running from Port Said on the Mediterranean Sea in the north to the city of Suez on the Gulf of Suez in the south. The map highlights the canal's navigation route, adjacent drainage canals, nearby lakes such as Lake Manzala, Lake Timsah, and the Great and Little Bitter Lakes, as well as surrounding cities, railroads, and salt marshes. An inset locator map shows the canal's position within northeastern Africa and the Middle East.

A collage featuring four colonial-era European figures in military and formal attire, a yellow map of Africa, and a vintage cartoon of imperialism in the background.

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

Panama Canal Erie Canal Grand Canal Buckingham Canal Rideau Canal Manchester Ship Canal Corinth Canal Kiel Canal Welland Canal Canal du Midi

Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

canals and inland waterways: The Suez Canal

(Left) Ball of predictions with answers to questions based on the Magic 8 Ball; (right): Rubik's Cube. (toys)

The Dating Game: Which Came First?

Panama Canal. Boat. Shipping. Ship and shipping. Container ship passing through the Panama Canal.

Canals, Straits, and More Quiz

Church of Saint George (Bet Giyorgis), Lalibela, Ethiopia. UNESCO World Heritage site.

Geography of Africa Quiz

water glass on white background. (drink; clear; clean water; liquid)

Water and its Varying Forms