List of Important Canals

Written by

Scott Spires

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

History

Canals are artificial waterways that allow the passage of marine traffic between one body of water and another. These waterways are of major economic importance, allowing vital commodities to be transported easily over long distances. Speed, efficiency, and safety are among the most crucial attributes of canal transport. By eliminating the necessity of taking longer natural routes, canals help cut down on fuel costs and deliver goods to their destination more quickly. The canals listed below are some of the most commercially important ones in the world, as measured by cargo volume.

Suez Canal

Construction of the Suez Canal in Egypt was completed in 1869. The canal traverses the Isthmus of Suez, which is the sole land bridge between Africa and Asia. The canal’s great commercial importance lies in the fact that it provides the shortest sea route between Europe and Asia. It runs 120 miles (193 km) from Port Said in the north to Suez in the south. About 12 percent of global trade goes through the canal. As of the early 2020s, approximately 20,000 vessels were passing through each year, accounting for nearly 1.6 billion metric tons of cargo per annum.

Panama Canal

The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans via the narrow Isthmus of Panama. The canal, which opened in 1914, cuts thousands of miles from journeys between the east and west coasts of both North and South America, as well as between Europe and Asia. The average transit time for a vessel is approximately 10 hours; a system of locks raises or lowers ships where necessary as they pass through. In 2024 more than 213 million metric tons were transported through the canal on 11,240 vessel transits.

Kiel Canal

The Kiel Canal is located in northern Germany and connects the North and Baltic seas. It was built between 1887 and 1895 and has been enlarged since then; its purpose was to eliminate the need to navigate around Jutland (peninsular Denmark). About 22,000–25,000 vessels pass through it annually, making it one of the busiest waterways in the world. In 2025 about 69 million metric tons of cargo transited the Kiel Canal.

Houston Ship Channel

First opened in 1914, the Houston Ship Channel connects Houston, Texas, with the Gulf of Mexico. This canal is the busiest in the United States in terms of waterborne tonnage; in 2023 almost 281 million metric tons of cargo passed through. It is one of the principal export routes for crude oil and liquefied natural gas.

Amsterdam-Rhine Canal

Opened in 1952, this canal connects the port of Amsterdam with the Rhine River. The canal is 45 miles (72 km) long and ends at the Waal River, the main branch of the Rhine flowing through the Netherlands. It is the most heavily used canal in western Europe, processing about 70 million metric tons of freight annually.

Grand Canal

China’s Grand Canal (also known as the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal) is the oldest and longest waterway on this list. It connects the Yangtze and Yellow rivers and runs approximately 1,100 miles (1,800 km). It has served as an important commercial link between northern and southern China for centuries. Construction of the initial sections of the canal began as long ago as the 4th century bce; it is considered by UNESCO to have been the largest engineering project in the world before the Industrial Revolution. Nowadays the canal carries about 260 million tons of cargo in about 100,000 vessel transits.

Explore Britannica Premium!

The trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners.