Difference between revisions of "Suez Canal"
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| − | The '''Suez Canal''' is a man-made [[ship]] canal dug across the isthmus of Suez in [[Egypt]]. It is a strategic passageway between the [[Nile River|Nile]] and the [[Sinai Penninsula]] that connects the [[Red Sea]] and the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. | + | The '''Suez Canal''' is a man-made [[ship]] canal dug across the isthmus of Suez in [[Egypt]]. It is a strategic passageway between the [[Nile River|Nile]] and the [[Sinai Penninsula]] that connects the [[Red Sea]] and the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. The completion of the canal eliminated the need to ships to travel around Africa. |
The canal was built by the [[French]] Suez Canal Company (Compagnie Universelle du Canal Maritime de Suez). Ferdinand de Lesseps completed the canal in 1869 after nearly 11 years work. | The canal was built by the [[French]] Suez Canal Company (Compagnie Universelle du Canal Maritime de Suez). Ferdinand de Lesseps completed the canal in 1869 after nearly 11 years work. | ||
| − | It's strategic importance led to the [[British]] conquest of Egypt in 1882. The canal came under British protection after [[The Convention of Constantinople]] in 1888. | + | It's strategic importance led to the [[British]] conquest of Egypt in 1882. The canal came under British protection after [[The Convention of Constantinople]] in 1888. The last British troops were removed on June 13, 1956. The potential for an all out war over the canal led to the first [[United Nations]] peacekeeping force to be deployed to the area. The month following the British pullout Egypt nationalized the canal. French and British stockholders eventually received some compensation for their losses. |
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| + | In 1948 Egypt barred Israeli ships and cargos bound for [[Israel]] from entering the canal. After the 1967 Arab-Israeli war the Israeli forces captured the Sinai Peninsula and the canal was closed to all shipping by a Egyptian blockade. It was reopened in 1975 and finally in 1979 Egypt began allowing Israeli vessels through the canal. | ||
[[Category:Canals]] | [[Category:Canals]] | ||
[[Category:Egypt]] | [[Category:Egypt]] | ||
Revision as of 01:55, March 4, 2008
The Suez Canal is a man-made ship canal dug across the isthmus of Suez in Egypt. It is a strategic passageway between the Nile and the Sinai Penninsula that connects the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. The completion of the canal eliminated the need to ships to travel around Africa.
The canal was built by the French Suez Canal Company (Compagnie Universelle du Canal Maritime de Suez). Ferdinand de Lesseps completed the canal in 1869 after nearly 11 years work.
It's strategic importance led to the British conquest of Egypt in 1882. The canal came under British protection after The Convention of Constantinople in 1888. The last British troops were removed on June 13, 1956. The potential for an all out war over the canal led to the first United Nations peacekeeping force to be deployed to the area. The month following the British pullout Egypt nationalized the canal. French and British stockholders eventually received some compensation for their losses.
In 1948 Egypt barred Israeli ships and cargos bound for Israel from entering the canal. After the 1967 Arab-Israeli war the Israeli forces captured the Sinai Peninsula and the canal was closed to all shipping by a Egyptian blockade. It was reopened in 1975 and finally in 1979 Egypt began allowing Israeli vessels through the canal.