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Why does the Suez Canal provide a shorter sea route between Europe and Asia?
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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 Suez Canal provides a shorter maritime route between Europe and Asia by creating a direct, lockless waterway across the Isthmus of Suez in Egypt.12
By connecting the Mediterranean Sea directly to the Red Sea, the canal eliminates the need for ships to undertake the significantly longer and more arduous journey around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. Since its completion in 1869, this strategic passage has served as a critical artery for global trade, offering the most efficient path for vessels traveling between Europe and the lands bordering the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean.132