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What difficulties slowed construction of the Suez Canal?
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Suez Canal
Ships in the Suez Canal in Egypt. One of the world's most important shipping lanes, the Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.
The construction of the Suez Canal, which took 10 years to complete rather than the originally planned six, faced several significant challenges that slowed progress.12
These difficulties included:
- Climatic and Health Issues: The project was hindered by harsh climatic conditions and a cholera epidemic in 1865.1
- Labor Troubles: Early operations were slowed by labor issues, as the project initially relied on peasants drafted as forced labor before transitioning to the use of dredgers and steam shovels operated by European laborers.1
- Complex Factors: Beyond physical obstacles, the project had to overcome various political, financial, and contractual difficulties throughout the decade of construction.2
While the majority of the canal was driven through sand or alluvium, workers also encountered occasional rock strata that required more intensive excavation. To address the lack of water in the arid region, the company constructed a freshwater canal, which was completed in 1863 to support the workforce.1